Sunshine Coast Council corruption findings and allegations revealed in Right to Information documents

Findings of corruption and outstanding allegations still under investigation within Sunshine Coast Council include misuse of cars, time sheet fraud and bullying.

More than 10 allegations of Sunshine Coast Council corruption ranging from misuse of vehicles, racial bullying and recruitment favouritism remain under investigation despite some dating back almost two years.

A list of complaints was provided by the council to the Sunshine Coast Daily under a Right to Information request detailing investigations into any allegations and substantiated cases of corrupt conduct against council staff or councillors.

The documents revealed 11 allegations – 10 against council employees and one against a councillor – remained under investigation.

The undetermined complaint against a councillor dated back to October 3, 2019 and related to the alleged misuse of authority to attempt to influence a decision.

Forty cases in total were listed in the documents dating from September 4, 2018 to as recently as June 21, 2021.

Twenty-six allegations of corruption – some of which were referred for external investigation – were found to be unsubstantiated despite seven cases resulting in performance or disciplinary management action being taken.

Sekisui House protesters make their views heard.

The Right to Information documents noted some of the allegations and matters contained in the release were “initially assessed as corrupt but were later substantiated only as a lesser type of improper conduct”.

Two allegations of corrupt conduct had been partially substantiated.

One allegation against a council staffer in May, 2019, related to the “misuse of authority in the workplace to threaten/cause a detriment”

The corrupt conduct allegation had been partially substantiated and the matter closed with “all recommendations implemented”.

On February 4, 2020, another complaint was made against a council employee alleging “misuse of authority – reprisal for making a complaint”.

Corrupt conduct was again partially substantiated but the matter was closed with all recommendations implemented.

An allegation of “misappropriation or unauthorised use of resources” on December 17, 2019, resulted in corrupt conduct being substantiated.

The matter was closed after all recommendations were implemented.

The documents stated the council was “fully reimbursed for unauthorised use of resources”.

Matters that remained under investigation against council employees included allegations of vehicle misuse and time sheet fraud, conflicts of interest during procurement processes, nepotism and favouritism in recruitment, bullying and harassment and racial bullying among others.

A council spokesman confirmed 27 matters had been referred directly by the complainant or the council to the Crime and Corruption Commission.

“The remaining 13 matters were assessed in accordance with the CCC’s directions to council and were not required to be reported,” the spokesman said.

“All matters are subject to audit by the CCC.”

The spokesman said the council took seriously “all allegations of corrupt conduct”.

“Consistent with its legislative obligations as a public sector organisation, council actively encourages reporting of issues,” the spokesman said.

“All investigations are carried out thoroughly with the process ensuring due diligence and the application of natural justice as required.

“Some matters are required by legislation to be referred to external agencies for action and or investigation and therefore those time frames are outside the control of council.”

The Crime and Corruption Commission was able to either investigate matters itself or refer them back to the council or to another agency.

“In all cases where an allegation of corrupt conduct has been substantiated, the necessary and appropriate action has been taken in line with statutory requirements and council policies,” the council spokesman said.

“Likewise, where another form of improper conduct is substantiated as a result of investigation, the necessary and appropriate action has been taken in line with statutory requirements and council policies.”

Twenty-three complaints had been received since the March, 2020 local government election.