Call for councillor to explain fake Facebook accusations
Top-level discussions have taken place at a southside council after parliament heard claims a councillor used a fake Facebook account to launch smear campaigns during last year’s council elections.
Redlands Coast
Don't miss out on the headlines from Redlands Coast. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Top-level discussions have taken place at Redland City Council about a first-term councillor accused in parliament for setting up a fake Facebook account to launch smear campaigns during last year’s council elections.
Redland City Council mayor Karen Williams has spoken with chief executive officer Andrew Chesterman after Redland City councillor Rowanne McKenzie was named in parliament last week as the person allegedly behind a fake Scarlett Rivers Facebook account.
Redlands MP Kim Richards told parliament there had been an “extraordinary attempt” to smear, denigrate and jeopardise the employment of Sheena Hewlett, the wife of another Redland City councillor Lance Hewlett, during last year’s election campaign.
No charges have been laid but Cr Hewlett has written to Police Minister Mark Ryan to ask for the case to be investigated after the parliamentary revelations.
Ms Richards told parliament the Scarlett Rivers account sent messages to Mrs Hewlett’s employer, a Gold Coast kindergarten, claiming Mrs Hewlett was posting unauthorised images of students on social media.
Parliament heard that police documents revealed the IP address of the computer used to create the profile, and to send the emails, was traced to the home of Cr McKenzie.
Mayor Karen Williams said she had asked her CEO Mr Chesterman to remind all councillors of their responsibilities under the Local Government Act and code of conduct including how they behaved on social media.
“I’ve also asked him to remind all councillors about the importance of working together for the benefit of the community,” she said.
Redland City councillor Adelia Berridge said she would ask Cr McKenzie for an explanation of the accusations at this month’s full council meeting.
“I will call on Rowanne McKenzie to give a full explanation and also ask all councillors to pledge not to sledge,” Cr Berridge said.
“We deserve an explanation about these accusations.”
In the lead-up to last year’s council elections, Cr Williams initiated a campaign calling on candidates and councillors to “pledge not to sledge”.
Cr McKenzie was unavailable for comment.
‘Gorilla-like’ attack on elderly man over a dog ends in jail
A Redland man on bail for assault has been jailed after a court heard he calmly set down his beer before bashing a 76-year-old from behind in a park over a dog.
No result after nine-hour meeting of Brisbane bayside council
A bayside council meeting descended into legal wrangling, bickering, and adjournments on Wednesday, with a nine-hour standoff over whether the Deputy Mayor could vote on a conduct report into the Mayor.