Watchdog decision on Karen Williams and drinking at council pending as renewed calls for mayor to resign
The state’s council watchdog has completed an investigation into Redland mayor Karen Williams and drinking at council after she admitted to having wine before crashing a council car.
Redlands Coast
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The state’s council watchdog has launched an investigation into Redland mayor Karen Williams, who admitted to drinking four glasses of wine before crashing a luxury council-owned Lexus minutes after holding an online meeting with families of drink-driving victims.
The Office of Independent Assessor said it had concluded an investigation into the conduct of Ms Williams after the crash in June with a decision pending.
The OIA said misconduct complaints about the mayor were currently with its legal department undergoing a natural justice process before possible referral to the Councillor Conduct Tribunal for a decision.
Ms Williams pleaded guilty to drink driving charges in court yesterday and was sentenced to 80 hours of community service and a breathalyser interlock on her car for five years.
Hecklers and a group of angry residents voiced their opinions about the sentence, which did not include a monetary fine and no conviction was recorded.
State Labor MP for Capalaba Don Brown renewed calls for her to resign this morning and said he wrote to the Local Government Minister Steven Miles in July asking for an inquiry into the mayor drinking during work hours and on council property.
The OIA has been asked to investigate the events leading up to the car crash including an inquiry into a drinks party held inside the councillors’ lounge after the mayor handed down her council budget on June 23.
He also asked the Minister to delve into what was discussed at an online zoom meeting between families of road crash victims.
“I am glad that the Local Government Minister and deputy Premier Steven Miles has referred that on to the OIA and that the OIA is still investigating the mayor’s behaviour,” Mr Brown said this morning.
“Being at work and being drunk while talking to drunk driving victims is, in my opinion, misconduct and that alone should be enough reason to resign.
“It’s been a complete betrayal of trust with those victims.”
Mr Brown said magistrate Deborah Vasta “came down hard” on the perception of “two-faced” politicians and he said the public no longer trusted Ms Williams.
Ms Williams was contacted for comment.
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