Southern Downs Regional Council chief executive Dave Burges sacked during ordinary meeting while on leave

The mayor of a regional Queensland council has opened up after the contract of a ‘professional and hardworking’ chief executive was terminated during a live-streamed meeting. LATEST.

Southern Downs Regional Council chief executive Dave Burges (Photo: Warwick Daily News/ File)

A regional Queensland mayor has weighed in on why their chief executive was removed from the top job during a live-streamed meeting.

Southern Downs Regional Council sacked chief executive Dave Burges “effectively immediately” with the announcement broadcast during the council’s September 18 Ordinary Meeting.

In a press release, a council spokesperson said they would “be pursuing new leadership opportunities as it moves to terminate the employment contract of Chief Executive Officer Dave Burges, effectively immediately”.

“The termination was administered in accordance with the contract terms, as agreed by the previous council,” the spokesperson said.

It is understood Mr Burges on long service leave, with Steve Johnston as acting chief executive who will continue in the position during the recruitment process.

Mayor Melissa Hamilton (Photo: Michael Hudson)

Mayor Melissa Hamilton thanked Mr Burges for his valuable contribution to the community over the past four years and wished him well in the future.

“I would like thank Dave for his service to the organisation and the Southern Downs community for the past four years,” Ms Hamilton said in a press release.

“I look forward to continuing to work collaboratively with councillors and staff towards the future of our region.”

MAYOR SPEAKS ON NEXT STEPS

Ms Hamilton said the move to axe the chief executive of the Southern Downs Regional Council had “the best interest of ratepayers in mind”, however the exact reason for the termination has been clouded in secrecy due to privacy and employment law.

“I personally am finding it very difficult because we want to be transparent, and give that information but legally we can’t,” she said.

“At the end of the day we have to absolutely comply to the letter of the law because we don’t want ratepayers to be paying for any breach of the law – that would be the worst scenario.”

Mayor Melissa Hamilton after the election win in early 2024 (Photo: Michael Hudson)

Despite the abruptness of the move, and the angst it has caused in some corners of the Southern Downs community, Ms Hamilton said she and her fellow councillors made the right decision.

“In my personal opinion, on the information we had before us, I am absolutely confident that the majority of councillors acted in the best interest of ratepayers, 100 per cent,” Ms Hamilton said.

“A lot of the concern in the community is about ‘what is this going to cost us’ and I can say I don’t think people should be concerned. Our council has been working since the election on saving ratepayers’ money and providing oversight by the mayor and councillors.

“The measures we have introduced have already saved ratepayers half a million dollars, and we are introducing measures to limit what council spends on legal fees, where there are significant savings for ratepayers.

“I think if people are concerned about the one-off cost of the termination, they shouldn’t be as our approach overall is already providing significant savings for ratepayers. In the balancing of this world this is not an issue people need to be concerned about.”

Ms Hamilton said the recruitment process for the next chief executive would be “merit based” and “absolutely independent”.

“I believe we’re looking for a fresh CEO and we will not be looking at considering any past CEOs,” she said.

“The CEO will need to share the value of the majority of councillors – that every dollar of ratepayer money is a precious resource – and it needs to be treated that way.

“Every time council is spending money we need to be asking if it is a good use of ratepayer money and it needs to pass that test.”

Melissa Hamilton at Allora on election day. March 16, 2024.

Ms Hamilton said the next chief executive's contract shouldn’t run for more than six months after the next election.

“I don’t think it’s fair to bind a future council’s hands when it comes to the leadership of the organisation,” she said.

The search for Mr Burges’ replacement will not impact any of the council works projects, the mayor said, with major infrastructure projects like the Warwick Saleyards redevelopment to continue as planned. 

“During the recruitment process of two to three months, the acting CEO (Steve Johnson) will remain during that process to create stability, and it certainly won’t affect any projects we have ongoing,” the mayor said.

“Steve (Johnston) is already reassessing what projects we have on and if we have any capacity to apply for grant funding, he’s certainly thrown himself in straight away.”

Ms Hamilton confirmed the recruitment process for the new chief executive would not include the interim chief executive, Steve Johnston, as a prospective for the role.

The mayor said the process of interviewing is expected to last two to three months, with council hoping for the chief executive to be in the job by “the beginning of 2025”.

COUNCILLOR WEIGHS IN

Stanthorpe-based councillor Russell Wantling confirmed that it was only himself and councillor Ross Bartley who were the only two to vote against the move.

Southern Downs councillor Russell Wantling (Photo: File)

“Being a new councillor for just on six months, Dave (Burges) was very helpful in teaching me the process and helping to find my direction,” Mr Wantling said.

“I am someone who asks a lot of questions, and Dave was always available to answer and facilitate any of my needs.

“It is my personal opinion that Dave was a huge asset to the Southern Downs Region and as a chief executive his calm mannerism helped steady the organisation.

“As a man who grew up in the area, and was looking to retire on the Southern Downs, I personally believe his decisions were always based around what was best for our entire community.”

Mr Wantling said Mr Burges was “passionate about the region and its people”.

“I personally believe that his knowledge of local government was second to none and over the past four years my opinion is that under his leadership, we saw this region grow and stabilise,” Mr Wantling said.

“There is no doubt that as the chief executive of an organisation with over 300 employees, your decision may not always be the popular one, but my personal opinion is that we have not had a more professional and hardworking chief executive in recent memory, which is why I didn’t support the motion on the day.”

Mr Wantling acknowledged this was his personal opinion, and said he respected the opinion of his fellow councillors.

Council said it is not in a situation at present to comment further, abiding by local government guidelines.

FALLOUT

Former councillor Andrew Gale took to Facebook to say he was “appalled” by the matter.

During the meeting livestream, comments were turned off by council, with the former councillor asking “whatever the hell happened to being open and accountable?”

Comments being turned off are council’s normal policy however, as no moderators were available to monitor them.

“Have we ever seen this level of censorship ever? Did anyone even see a comment on the live stream comments today that were disrespectful or even needed moderating,” Mr Gale asked.

An anonymous commenter wrote on Facebook, and labelled the “public sacking of the CEO as “disgusting.”

“Good grief, what next?” Melinda Gale said.