Rockhampton mayor to be decided by by-election after Margaret Strelow’s sudden resignation
New laws that looked to deliver Rockhampton an unlikely new mayor are set to be overturned at the 11th hour after the state opposition branded them a mess. The move has been slammed by one MP who said he was “shocked and disgusted” by it.
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Greens MP Michael Berkman said he was “shocked and disgusted” at the changes to local government laws that would keep Chris Hooper from automatically becoming mayor of Rockhampton.
It comes after news broke that retrospective legislation will be introduced to parliament that will stop Mr Hooper taking the role, following the resignation of Margaret Strelow.
Quirky local Chris ‘Pineapple’ Hooper becomes Rockhampton mayor after Margaret Strelow resigns
Local Government Minister Stirling Hinchliffe released a statement this morning, saying the Palaszczuk Government would introduce the new laws when the new parliament is sworn in.
“I have received advice that should this be completed at the earliest opportunity, any vacancies to any mayoral or councillor positions that have recently arisen will need to be filled through a by-election,” he said.
“This will ensure communities can have a proper vote to determine who represents them.”
Mr Berkman, in a Facebook post this afternoon, slammed the move.
“Labor are backtracking on laws they JUST (sic) introduced to stop an anti-Adani candidate from becoming mayor in Rockhampton,” he said.
“Now their first act after being returned to majority government is to urgently change the laws once they don’t like the outcome.”
“Queensland Labor is willing to abuse urgency provision to keep someone out of power.”
Rockhampton Council was one of four local governments that, along with the LGAQ Policy Executive, moved a motion calling for the new local government laws to be changed at the LGAQ Annual conference in October.
It comes after the opposition called for the current new laws to be overturned immediately, with the LNP’s local government spokeswoman Ann Leahy saying they were a farce and the people of Rockhampton deserved better following the resignation of Ms Strelow.
“Voters should decide on who will represent them as mayor in an election – it should not be who comes second or third,” Ms Leahy said.
“This mess is entirely Labor’s fault and the new Local Government Minister needs to act fast to fix it.
“The laws were rushed through the parliament this year without any scrutiny by a committee.
“Rockhampton now faces having a mayor they did not choose and that is anti-democratic.”
She said Rockhampton residents should have a chance to nominate for the important job.
Before Labor’s late announcement, state laws meant that the person who came second in the mayor race earlier this year would automatically be installed in the job as Ms Strelow has resigned within the first 12 months of the job.
Queensland Federal LNP Senator Matthew Canavan also voiced his frustration over how Ms Strelow’s resignation was handled, calling it a “travesty”.
“Margaret did not deserve to bow out as Mayor this way,” he said on social media.
“It is a travesty that the leadership of Rockhampton can be determined by those in power in Brisbane.”
Mr Canavan also took aim at former Deputy Premier Jackie Trad, calling it a “massive double standard” that she wasn’t forced to resign but Ms Strelow was over “a solar farm.”
“These investigations have stemmed from a vindictive Labor Party,” he said.
“This all stems from a visit to a solar farm.
“Jackie Trad kept her job as Treasurer after failing to declare a house!”
A statement from Rockhampton Regional Council accompanying the motion said “the legislative requirement to now appoint the second, third, fourth and so forth candidate” – in the event of a mayor or councillor being stood down – “is not representing the view of the community”.
“There is a very strong possibility that a candidate with a very low poll and by consequence low community support could be appointed to an elected representative’s position on Council.”
“It is deemed that this is undermining the fundamental democratic process of electing the community’s representative.”
“There is a very strong possibility that a candidate with a very low poll and by consequence low community support could be appointed to an elected representative’s position on Council.”
Mr Hinchliffe said the laws had initially been changed in a bid to discourage councillors from running in the October state election, but conceded the laws had not “really been successful”.
“There were a number of councillors who contested the state election,” he said.
“It obviously didn’t prove to be a disincentive as it was intended.
“Particularly when you see examples across the state where mayors have been elected on large margins, communities want to have a say in who can be their mayor going forward.”
Within Labor ranks, there were at least two councillors who ran in the state election as ALP candidates – including Les Walker who won the seat of Mundingburra.
Mr Hinchliffe also claimed the initial law changes were about reducing the cost to local government and maintaining stability in councils.
“We’ve seen that in practice it didn’t achieve the outcomes that we were seeking,” he said.
The Local Government Minister insisted the government had already promised to change the laws prior to the state election, when they addressed the LGAQ conference.
He also said their decision to introduce retrospective legislation was not a reflection on Mr Hooper.
Townsville Mayor Jenny Hill slammed the laws which she claimed meant local councillors are held to higher standards than their Federal and State counterparts.
Meanwhile, Isaac Region’s mayor Anne Baker has also revealed the Crime and Corruption Commission made inquiries to the regional council’s chief executive about the Premier’s trade mission to India.
Cr Hill, who accompanied Rockhampton Mayor Margaret Strelow on the mission to India, said Ms Strelow’s resignation was a loss to the community.
“It’s a sad day to see a longstanding mayor and colleague resign after many years of service,” she said.
“It’s also disappointing to see that local government officials are often held to much higher disclosure standards than State and Federal members.”
Cr Hill said her involvement in the trade mission was registered on her register of interests.
Meanwhile, Isaac Regional Council mayor Anne Baker said Isaac’s chief executive received questions on two occasions related to the trip, first from Department of Local Government in June 2018 and then from the CCC in November 2018.
“The CEO responded directly with a detailed report to the CCC by letter dated 28 November 2018 which addressed and closed the matter,” Cr Baker said.
“I have consistently declared such interest at meetings where matters relating to Adani have been considered by Council,” she said.
