Mayor calls for parliamentary inquiry as Premier labels OIA probe as ‘storm in a teacup’

As pressure builds on Queensland’s council watchdog, Annastacia Palaszczuk has dismissed the probe into Barcaldine’s mayor as a “storm in a teacup”. VOTE IN OUR POLL

Annastacia Palaszczuk has labelled a probe by the state’s Office of the Independent Assessor into a regional mayor as a “storm in a teacup” as another mayor called for a parliamentary review into the body.

The OIA has come under the spotlight following revelation Barcaldine Regional Council Mayor Sean Dillon was being investigated for “potential misconduct” after raising concerns about the vaccine rollout organised by the Central West Hospital and Health Service.

It is alleged Cr Dillon made comments about the CWHHS on February 17 “that could be considered detrimental to public confidence in a health service provider and lead agency in the roll out of the Covid-19 vaccination program in the region”.

During discussion at a public council meeting, Cr Dillon raised concerns his entire western community could not be vaccinated in the few days allocated, that more public information was needed before the planned jabs and that not everyone could physically attend the shire hall for their shots.

It comes as former Premier Campbell Newman slammed the revelations, labelling it an “extremely sinister development” in Queensland’s democratic system.

“This organisation (OIA) was set up … to improve standards of governance across local government in Queensland, not to be the secret police stifling debate and democratic process,” he said.

“I think this office should be shut down and we should go back to local government legislation that was tried and tested and worked well for generations of this state.”

Former premier Campbell Newman. Picture: Steve Pohlner

Asked whether it concerned her that Barcaldine Mayor Sean Dillon was being investigated by the OIA for questioning the vaccine rollout, Ms Palaszczuk said, “I think it’s a bit of a storm in a teacup.

“I don’t think what he said was unusual.

“I think it’s a bit ridiculous, but that’s a matter for the independent assessor.

“Those comments were made earlier this year, and they have had great vaccination rates out there.

“And the Mayor, Sean, I know him and he’s done a great job.”

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk. Picture: John Gass

Deputy Premier and Local Government Minister Steven Miles said the Government supported the right of councillors to speak freely.

“The Office of the Independent Assessor is an independent statutory body,” he said.

“If anyone has concerns about the actions of the OIA, they should raise those concerns with the Queensland Ombudsman.”

Bundaberg Mayor Jack Dempsey took aim at the OIA, saying this situation contradicted advice he received from the office regarding comments that people make on social media.

“The OIA shouldn’t be stifling elected members from expressing personal opinions or limiting their ability to advocate on behalf of their community,” he said.

“It doesn’t make sense for them to say that councillors can be beaten up on social media but can’t express opinions themselves on general matters of important public interest.

“According to this decision it seems that councillors have fewer rights than other members of the community, including state and federal members.

“I believe there needs to be a full parliamentary review of the OIA and how it operates.

“I’m not sure the OIA is meeting the intent of its legislation and after three years it’s time for Parliament to look at this and invite feedback from stakeholders.”

Queensland LNP Senator James McGrath slammed the state’s council watchdog as “Orwellian” and acting like the “Gestapo”, saying accusations of misconduct against a local mayor for questioning logistics of the vaccine rollout was a “bloody attack on free speech”.

LNP Senator James McGrath, in a speech, called for the Office of the Independent Assessor to be reined in with tighter legislation or “ideally” be abolished.

Barcaldine Regional Council Mayor Sean Dillon

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“The OIA, the Gestapo of local government in Queensland, is alleging that (Cr Sean Dillon) made comments that could be considered detrimental to public confidence in our health service provider,” Senator McGrath said.

“The last time I checked, one of the primary roles of local government councils is to raise concerns on behalf of their local community.

“Indeed if councils and mayors are not raising concerns on behalf of their local community, they are not doing their job.”

LNP Senate

Senator McGrath said councillors he had spoken to him on his travels across the state had complained about the length of time it took for the OIA to investigate matters.

“The OIA has no benchmark or timeliness for reporting, not enough frivolous or vexatious complaints get knocked out at the assessment stage,” he said.

“Trivial matters like people being blocked on a council Facebook page for making derogatory comments end up going through the OIA and sent back to council to deal with, both sides lawyer up and it costs councils thousands and thousands of dollars to deal with the complaint.”

Senator McGrath said the OIA needed to be reined in or abolished.

“Because counsellors are now afraid to make decisions or talk about issues in the community … And that is what they’re elected to do … we need to be supporting councils not making it tougher for people to stand up and be elected representatives in their local area,” he said.

State MP for Maroochydore Fiona Simpson. Photo: Patrick Woods.

Opposition integrity spokeswoman and Member for Maroochydore Fiona Simpson also seized upon the revelations, saying she feared there was a “genuine risk” being posed to the state’s democracy.

“All Queenslanders should know this is a very serious issue,” she said.

“I fear the Office of the Independent Assessor is being used to strongarm elected officials who hold contrary views to the current Queensland Government.

“I fear the actions of the OIA are authoritarian which doesn’t represent who we are as a society.

“As Queensland’s Shadow Integrity Minister my job is to call out overreach and political bullying when I see it.”

LGAQ CEO Greg Hallam said the body staunchly supported Cr Dillon’s “right to speak publicly” about the Covid-19 vaccine rollout and called on the OIA to withdraw their action.

“The vaccine rollout is discussed on a daily basis by politicians at all levels and on all sides of government,” he said.

The Local Government Association of Queensland CEO Greg Hallam. Picture: Brendan Radke

“It would literally be mentioned hundreds of times a day in the Queensland media.”

While saying the LGAQ had always supported the role of the OIA, Mr Hallam said the body was prepared to take the matter to the High Court.

He said it was “way wide of the mark on this issue” and didn’t pass the pub test or accord with the Australian Constitution.

Mr Hallam described Cr Dillon as “thoughtful, measured and highly articulate” and was “simply seeking to represent his community, as mayors must do”.

Opposition local government spokeswoman Ann Leahy claimed there was a “pattern of overreach” that was starting during the Palaszczuk government’s third term.

“This is deeply concerning,” she said.

“The abilities of elected mayors and councillors to represent their communities is being made impossible by the overreach of the state government and the ‘independent’ bodies it oversees.

“The State Government must rein in the overreach of the OIA.”