2020 elected Noosa Chamber president Rob Neely postpones meeting to discuss leadership dispute

A dispute over the presidency of the Noosa Chamber of Commerce has taken another twist after Covid-19 plunged the region into a sudden lockdown.

Rob Neely has sent out a notice that special Noosa Chamber meeting will be postponed.

A meeting to address a dispute over the presidency of the Noosa Chamber of Commerce and Industry has fallen victim to the sudden Covid-19 lockdown.

The meeting, scheduled for Tuesday, June 29, was called after eight chamber members decided to replace 2020 elected leader Rob Neely with chamber vice-president Ralph Rogers but was cancelled when the lockdown was announced earlier that day.

Mr Neely claims his removal was not done within the rules of the chamber’s constitution and said members had called the meeting to discuss the issues in dispute.

He sent an email on June 28 saying the meeting had been put on hold due to the new Covid-19 restrictions announced on Tuesday.

“In accordance with the new Covid requirements announced to come into effect tonight, the meeting will be postponed until a date that is suitable to run a public meeting as defined by the (chief health officer) Queensland,” the email said.

The notice of postponement sent put by Rob Neely.

Mr Neely said the members who had called the meeting made the decision to postpone it.

The committee has previously told members such a meeting would be invalid and any decisions would not be recognised.

Attempts to obtain comment from Mr Rogers after the postponement were unsuccessful.

Mr Rogers previously declined to comment because of legal action.

“There are legal proceedings in play as we take all allegations seriously, but it would be untimely to make any other comment,” he said in a statement.

Mr Neely has issued eight notices of concerns against the committee members claiming they had made defamatory comments about him, giving them 28 days to make an acceptable offer of amends.

The move was triggered by a mass email out to chamber members explaining why the committee moved to replace Mr Neely.

“Mr Robert Neely’s conduct was considered by the NCCI management committee to be injurious and prejudicial to the character and interests of the Noosa Chamber,” the email said.

Mr Neely alleges the email falsely claimed he worked against the chamber’s interest, was dishonest, behaved corruptly and that he was not wanted by any of its members.