Logan CEO Sharon Kelsey has been reinstated at Logan City Council in historic QIRC ruling

OUSTED Logan CEO Sharon Kelsey has been reinstated in a historic ruling from the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission today.

OUSTED Logan CEO Sharon Kelsey has been reinstated in a historic ruling from the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission today.

Ms Kelsey, who was sacked in February, will return to work on Monday, May 14.

She was ousted after seven councillors, excluding Mayor Luke Smith, voted against extending her contract.

Ms Kelsey’s battle with the council started more than seven months ago when she was told she would undergo a performance review while she was on probation.

Initially the review was an internal process.

However, that changed in October when council decided to call in the services of Peak Services, a body owned by the Local Government Association.

Today’s QIRC decision is an interim ruling in the lead up to the court hearing on July 22.

After today’s QIRC decision, Ms Kelsey told The Albert & Logan News she was looking forward to getting back to work and was delighted with the decision.

“As far as I know, this type of decision has never been made before in Queensland,” she said.

“It’s been a long battle but I am now glad to say I can get on with my job.”

News in @logancc CEO Sharon Kelsey has been reinstated. pic.twitter.com/B8SttUtXy4

— Judith Kerr (@judithkerr1) May 4, 2018

QIRC Commissioner John Thompson said there were exceptional circumstances behind his decision.

There was no evidence Ms Kelsey’s employment had been terminated because of misconduct and he said she had only been informed of alleged performance issues in April.

Mr Thompson said it was incongruous for the council’s legal team to claim the seven councillors were not politically aligned while claiming Ms Kelsey was politically aligned.

The Commissioner said both Cr Smith and Ms Kelsey would be bound to make the relationship work.

Cr Smith, who excluded himself from the chief executive vote in February, is fighting corruption and perjury charges in relation to the Crime and Corruption Commission investigation with which Ms Kelsey co-operated.

Logan Mayor Luke Smith with Sharon Kelsey.

Mayor Smith was attending a Beenleigh-Yatala Chamber of Commerce business lunch when the news broke.

The Mayor responded to her reinstatement via Twitter, saying he believed that it was an unprecedented ruling for local government.

Division 10 Cr Darren Power said the news came at a time when the council was in Budget deliberations and needed top-level guidance.

He said he did not think Ms Kelsey’s reinstatement would be an issue for already-soured relations with Cr Smith.

“It may not be an issue at all because of the situation with the Local Government Minister who has asked for greater powers to stand down mayors if they have been charged with criminal offences,” he said.

“The Minister will be in cabinet next week and it is anticipated that any changes discussed will be brought in to legislation when the government meets next.

“We have seen what has happened in Ipswich and, in my opinion, Logan is one arrest away from facing the same ‘Show Cause’ notice from Minister Stirling Hinchliffe.

“For the councillors who did not vote against the CCC edict and did not vote to sack Ms Kelsey, this is vindication.”