Council refuses to answer questions about security over death threats to mayor

A Redland councillor will lodge a ‘no confidence vote’ in mayor Karen Williams as the Local Government Minister said he was advised not to take further action.

Local Government Minister Steven Miles will not take further action at this stage over Redland mayor Karen Williams, who was charged with a high-level drink driving offence on the weekend.

Mr Miles said the Department of Local Government advised him not to take any further action over Cr Williams and her position after she volunteered to take leave.

However, Redland City councillor Adelia Berridge will lodge a no confidence motion in the mayor which is likely to be put to the councillor vote at the next meeting on July 17.

Even if all councillors vote for the motion of no confidence, the mayor will not be made to resign.

Cr Berridge said the reason she drafted the motion was to prove to constituents that she was listening to their complaints about the mayor.

In the absence of Cr Williams, it is likely that Julie Talty, the daughter of former councillor John Burns, will step up into that role.

A Redland councillor has lodged a ‘no confidence vote’ in mayor Karen Williams as the Local Government Minister said he was advised not to take further action.

Mr Miles said he had asked the department’s advice on Cr Williams after receiving a formal request to act on the matter and following “a large volume” of media requests.

“The Department has advised me that now that she has stood down voluntarily, there is no need nor would they advise me to take any further actions,” Mr Miles said.

“Let’s see what the court process results in but the advice to me at this stage is that it would not be appropriate for me to take any further action.”

Police have also said no formal complaint has yet been lodged with Queensland Police Service about death threats made to the mayor.

Police media said they were unable to comment further and were unable to give a “QP” reference number for such complaints.

For every incident reported, QPS creates and assigns a police reference “QP” number, which officers use to search for details about incidents.

In a statement on Saturday, Cr Williams said she had received “death threats and serious abuse” over the past week since she crashed a council-owned luxury Lexus and admitted drink driving before being charged with a 0.177 alcohol reading.

Her statement, made just hours after she was charged with the high-range drink driving offence, said she would take a period of unpaid leave starting today until her matter was dealt with. That is likely to start with a court appearance on August 1.

“I will undertake this personal leave to respond to the police charge and to receive counselling as I committed to do last week,” she said.

“I again apologise for my actions and the toll they have taken on the community.

“I made a serious personal error of judgment, for which I am deeply sorry.”

“Whilst not excusing my actions in any way, the death threats and serious abuse I have received this week have also taken a heavy toll on my family and staff.

“Others have reached out to offer words of comfort during this time and I sincerely thank them.”

Redland City Council and Cr Williams were approached for comment about the death threats.

Redland Council refused to answer questions on whether it had stepped up security at its Cleveland council chambers or its Cleveland car workshop depot because of the alleged death threats.