Legal stoush between Mackay council, sacked CEO over

Both parties tight-lipped about how much has money changed hands

Former Mackay Regional Council chief executive officer Brett Heyward three days after he started his contract, which was terminated 24 days later. Picture: Louise Starkey

THE long-running legal stoush between Mackay Regional Council, including former councillors, and a former CEO, Brett William Heyward, is over.

A statement issued by Mackay Regional Council chief executive officer Craig Doyle said: "There has been litigation ongoing between Dr Brett Heyward and Council that has been resolved satisfactorily between the parties. We sincerely wish Dr Heyward the best for his future."

Dr Heyward's lawyer Daniel Williams, of MinterEllison, said the case had been resolved with "mutually agreeable terms" but did have a confidentiality component to the settlement.

Dr Heyward claimed for damages of more than $3million after he was given his termination letter on November 2, 2015, just 27 days after taking up the position with the council.

Now it has settled both sides aren't saying how much money has changed hands.

Following his sacking, Dr Heyward said he hadn't been given an explanation as to why he was terminated from the job to which he had just been appointed.

His lawyers filed the claim of damages with the Supreme Court of Queensland three months later.

Dr Heyward's Statement of Claim described his "long and distinguished career in public administration".

He was claiming $128,000 in past losses, $2million in damages of future losses, $891,000 for not being able to sign another contract and $376,000 defamation.

In a press release issued in February 2016, Dr Heyward said he did not believe "(Mackay Regional Council's) procedures were followed in making the decision, which appears to have been discussed by councillors at two private meetings".

At the time Mackay Regional Council's newly appointed chief executive officer Craig Doyle said, "At this stage council has not been provided with a copy of any proceedings".

Mr Doyle said then that in light of pending legal proceedings, it was not appropriate to comment further, other than to confirm that council would "vigorously defend any litigation".

Email Campbell Gellie.

Originally published as Legal stoush between Mackay council, sacked CEO over