Moreton Bay mayor is being investigated over allegedly failing to declare conflict of interest at 2016 meeting

Moreton Bay Council is still in the spotlight of investigators with the current mayor and a former mayor being investigated over conduct allegations.

Moreton Bay Council is firmly in the spotlight of investigators with the current mayor and a former mayor being investigated over conduct allegations.

Although allegations against several former councillors have been dismissed.

Six councillors named in ongoing investigations

Denise Sims says misconduct was a genuine misunderstanding

Councillor fined over leaked confidential information

Pine Rivers Press can reveal that current mayor Peter Flannery is the subject of an ongoing investigation by the Office of independent Assessor into an alleged failure to declare a conflict of interest at a council meeting on June 21, 2016.

Former mayor Allan Sutherland, who is facing separate criminal misconduct charges brought by the CCC, is also under investigation by the OIA over separate matters.

At the June 21 meeting, councillors were to consider creation of a Priority Development Area (PDA) over the Petrie Mill site, and the inclusion of a nearby development property by Philip Usher Constructions into the PDA area.

A complaint was made to the OIA on February 26, 2019, alleging that five then councillors — Peter Flannery, James Houghton, Julie Greer, Mike Charlton and Koliana Winchester — failed to declare conflicts of interest over the matter.

Philip Usher Constructions donated $10,000 to a third party campaign fund called Moreton Futures Trust for the 2016 election.

It was alleged that the five councillors had accepted funds from Moreton Futures Trust (MFT) during that campaign to pay for advertising material.

Moreton Bay Council’s Register of Councillor Conduct though reveals that the investigation into councillors Houghton, Greer, Charlton and Winchester was dismissed on May 7 this year.

“Following an investigation, the Office of the independent Assessor dismissed this matter pursuant to section 150X(c)(i) as dealing with the matter would not be in the public interest given the lesser involvement of these councillors, and the councillors the subject of the allegation are no longer councillors at MBRC.”

The matter involving Cr Flannery is still active.

Meanwhile, Mr Sutherland is being investigated by the OIA in relation to his involvement with both Moreton Futures Trust and Moreton Bay Region Industry and Tourism (MBRIT).

Mr Sutherland is also facing two counts of misconduct in relation to public office brought by the CCC on December 18 last year.

That matter is next due to be mentioned on August 17 in Brisbane Magistrates Court.

Mr Sutherland has previously stated he would fight the charges.

The OIA investigates claims of misconduct or inappropriate conduct by councillors, whereas the Crime and Corruption Commission (CCC) investigates corruption allegations.

At the end of the investigation, if the Independent Assessor reasonably suspects misconduct, the OIA will make an application for the matter to be heard by the Councillor Conduct Tribunal.

If a person has been found to have engaged in misconduct, penalties range from undergoing counselling and/or being fined, to being prosecuted in a court of law.

During the previous term of Moreton Bay Council, two councillors had been found to have engaged in misconduct by the OIA — Denise Sims and Adam Hain.

Cr Sims failed to declare her husband’s employment on her register of interests, and it was accepted that she genuinely misunderstood her obligations.

Cr Hain was found to have disclosed confidential information to a member of the public.

In each case, the councillor was counselled by the council CEO. Cr Hain was also fined $250.