Keppel MP Brittany Lauga and Livingstone Mayor Ireland continue to exchange barbs

Keppel MP Brittany Lauga has referred the Livingstone Mayor to the councillor watchdog. Find out why.

Livingstone Shire Mayor Andy Ireland and Keppel MP Brittany Lauga.

Keppel MP Brittany Lauga has referred Mayor Andy Ireland to the councillor watchdog following Livingstone Shire Council’s special meeting last week about Covid-19 restrictions.

Ms Lauga has gone to the Office of the independent Assessor (OIA) over her concerns about a potential conflict of interest but she would not disclose publicly further details about those concerns.

It is understood they centre around Mr Ireland’s business interests.

“Declaring conflicts of interest is imperative to upholding integrity in public office,” Ms Lauga said.

“I do not wish to comment further as the matter is now before the OIA.”

When contacted about Ms Lauga’s course of action, Mayor Ireland said he did not want to comment on the matter.

At last week’s meeting, councillors decided Livingstone would write to Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, asking her to reconsider planned restrictions on unvaccinated Queenslanders.

These restrictions are set to take effect from December 17, or whenever the state’s vaccination of people aged 16 and over hits 80 per cent.

Under the new rules, only fully vaccinated people will be able to attend pubs, clubs, cafes, restaurants, cinemas, theatres, music festivals and stadiums, where all staff also need to have had two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine.

Livingstone’s councillors this week revealed their vaccination status and individual stances ahead of the border reopening and new restrictions taking effect.