Cr Denise Sims says misconduct found by OIA was a genuine misunderstanding

A southeast Queensland councillor will be counselled after being found to have engaged in misconduct by the Office of the independent Assessor.

Councillor Denise Sims becomes the second Moreton Bay councillor found to have engaged in misconduct by the Office of the independent Assessor (OIA).

DENISE SIMS has become the second Moreton Bay councillor found to have engaged in misconduct by the Office of the independent Assessor (OIA).

Cr Sims (Div 7) was found to have engaged in misconduct for failing to declare her husband’s employment on her register of interests.

RELATED:

● Councillor fined over leaked confidential information

The matter refers to the period between April 18, 2016 and June 4, 2019.

Cr Sims referred herself to the OIA having failed to declare her husband had been working at a Christian Outreach Centre since 2015, including some months before she was elected.

The tribunal ordered that Cr Sims be counselled by the council CEO over the misconduct, acknowledging that she had no previous disciplinary history.

“When I thought I made a mistake, I self-referred to the Office of the Independent Assessor and once advised automatically rectified the issue. It was a genuine misunderstanding,” Cr Sims told Pine Rivers Press.

“I decided to run for council because I care about our community and want to make a difference in the lives of the people who call Moreton Bay home.

“I love my job and I am incredibly honoured to represent the people of Division 7.”

Under the Local Government Act all income over $500 must be recorded in a councillor’s register of interests, including the income of their spouse and other people related to the councillor.

The information provided in a councillor’s register is used to determine whether or not an actual or perceived conflict of interest arises.

“The OIA accepted the first-term councillor was not deliberately attempting to conceal an interest given she had updated her register to include her husband’s employment while providing full and frank co-operation to investigators,” an OIA spokesman said.

“The OIA fast-tracked the matter to the Councillor Conduct Tribunal which also accepted Cr Sims genuinely misunderstood her obligations.”

Last September, Cr Adam Hain was ordered by the OIA to make a public admission of misconduct, pay a $250 fine, and undergo counselling for releasing confidential information.