Logan councillors’ app group under investigation with Independent Assessor
An investigation is under way into claims some Logan City councillors broke a councillor code of conduct by holding private discussions about other councillors on an online app.
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THE Office of Independent Assessor is investigating claims some Logan City councillors broke a councillor code of conduct by holding private discussions about other councillors on an online app.
The claim was made to the Office of the Independent Assessor by Browns Plains resident Anoushka Arro in March.
Ms Arro wrote to the Office after meeting Local Government Minister Office Director of Governance, Capability and Engineering Services Craig Vandermeer and Governance Manager Daniel Westall.
In her letter to the Independent Assessor Kathleen Florian, Ms Arro said she was concerned a “select few councillors used a closed social media group that involved discussions about other councillors in a disrespectful manner”.
In a reply letter to Ms Arro, Deputy Independent Assessor Charles Kohn said he had considered all of the information provided, and “I have formed the view that your complaint, if proven, involves suspected misconduct and as such I advise that the OIA will undertake an investigation into this matter”.
Mr Kohn’s letter said the investigation had been assigned to a senior investigator.
The letter also said Ms Arro would receive information about any investigation in June and any decisions about the conduct of any councillors would be made under Section 150W of the Act.
Ms Arro said she felt compelled to lodge the complaint after studying the Code of Conduct for Councillors in Queensland.
She also launched a silent protest at this month’s full council meeting about a proposal to give all Logan councillors 2.1 per cent pay rises on July1.
Acting mayor Cherie Dalley said Cr Darren Power’s call for a report into the pay rises was unanimously supported.
Cr Dalley also pointed out that since taking on the role of Acting Mayor in May 2018, she had not been receiving the Mayoral salary or any additional remuneration and neither had acting deputy mayor Trevina Schwarz.
Last week, the Office of the independent Assessor released its first quarterly report revealing it had launched 201 investigations off the back of 584 complaints since it was established four months ago.
Thirty-one of those complaints were in relation to Logan City Council.
The report showed about half the complaints, or 143, the most in the state, were made against the Gold Coast City Council but almost 80 per cent of those were dismissed.
There were also 72 complaints lodged about Moreton Bay Regional Council.
About 23 per cent of complaints were being assessed as “potential corrupt” conduct, and have since been passed on to the Crime and Corruption Commission.
Another 25 per cent were being looked at as inappropriate behaviour, while 44 per cent were being assessed as misconduct.
Failing to declare conflicts of interest, breaches of trust and breaches of the Councillor Code of Conduct were among the top issues that were raised with the OIA.
Nearly half of complaints came from members of the public, while 20 per cent were referred to the OIA from council officials.
Independent Assessor Kathleen Florian said the body was dealing with a large number of complaints in relation the state’s most populous councils.
“We have received complaints regarding 41 out of 77 Queensland councils,” she said.
“I can assure the community and councillors that we are taking all complaints seriously and assessing each one carefully on the information available before taking any action.”
Of the 584 complaints made to the OIA across the state over the four month period, 243 were dismissed and 94 referred to other agencies.
The OIA does not deal with complaints about Brisbane City Council.
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