Redland Mayor Karen Williams ‘no-show’ at Canberra mayor forum after barred from interstate travel

A southeast mayor, barred from travelling interstate after pleading guilty to a high-range drink driving offence, was an obvious no-show at this week’s top-level mayoral convention in Canberra.

A southeast mayor, barred from travelling interstate after pleading guilty to a high-range drink driving offence, was an obvious no-show at this week’s top-level mayoral convention in Canberra.

Redland City Council mayor Karen Williams, who is on a community service order, is banned from travelling outside Queensland without a special exemption.

Ms Williams was sentenced to 80 hours of community service, had her licence disqualified for six months and will have an alcohol interlock device fitted to her car for five years, after she pleaded guilty to a charge of driving with a blood alcohol reading of .177 on August 1.

She was charged after crashing her luxury council-owned Lexus hybrid station wagon into a tree minutes after holding a zoom meeting with parents of those who died at the hands of drink drivers.

Under the terms of her order, Ms Williams has to report to a corrective services officer at specified times at Capalaba’s Probation and Parole Office.

She also must notify a probation officer of any change in her address or employment and is barred from leaving Queensland, unless she obtains the permission from a corrective services officer.

Redland mayor Karen Williams pleaded guilty to high-range drink driving but no conviction was recorded.

Ms Williams was missing from the line-up of mayors at this week’s southeast Queensland Council of Mayors convention in Canberra organised by fellow Queenslander and Parliament’s new Speaker of the House Milton Dick.

Instead, she sent her deputy mayor Julie Talty to the two-day Canberra conference.

Ms Talty said she appreciated the opportunity Ms Williams afforded her to gain experience of the function and opportunities presented through the Council of Mayors and to represent her and the community at the meetings in Canberra.

“As the Mayor’s delegate, there is nothing unusual in my representing her at these delegations, nor is it unusual for Deputy Mayors to attend these delegations,” Ms Talty said.

“It has been very interesting to see the workings of the Parliament and the way the Council of Mayors allows the opportunity to lobby the government for regional and local funding and initiatives.

“It was an honour to be hosted by Milton Dick for a light lunch in the Speaker’s Office.”

Ms Willaims’ no-show in Canberra triggered angst within the ranks of other elected Redland councillors and from the local state MP Don Brown.

Mr Brown dubbed her a “part-time” mayor and said he had not seen her at any community events in the past month.

“Her absence in Canberra shows she can’t do her job,” he said.

“The mayor needs to tell ratepayers why she did not go to Canberra for this meeting because she can apply for an exemption to travel.

“The meeting is the SEQ Council of Mayors, not the SEQ Council of Deputy Mayors.”

Councillors Adelia Berridge, Wendy Boglary and Lance Hewlett, said they had no knowledge that the mayor had been barred from travelling interstate and were not told that deputy mayor Julie Talty would replace the city’s mayor at the meeting.

Mr Dick said the meeting was an important gathering for the mayors to strengthen connections across the state’s southeast.

“Since my time as a councillor, I’ve always appreciated the impact of our local councils, and the importance of empowering them to deliver for their communities,” he said.

“I hosted the southeast Queensland Council of Mayors in the Speaker’s office, doing my part to help strengthen the connection and working relationships between our different levels of government.”

Redland City Council failed to respond to questions about why the mayor did not attend the Canberra meeting.