Brisbane City Council bias claims as report shows only opposition councillors in trouble

EVERY councillor reprimanded on conduct during last financial year’s Brisbane City Council meetings was in opposition, reigniting claims of bias and bullying in the chamber.

The opposition claims there is bias and bullying in the Brisbane City Council chamber. (AAP/Richard Walker)

EVERY councillor reprimanded on conduct during last financial year’s Brisbane City Council meetings was in opposition, reigniting claims of bias and bullying.

Labor’s most admonished councillor said ratepayers “won’t buy” that all the council’s angels sit on the LNP side of the chamber and its devils on the other.

The Brisbane City Council Annual Report 2017/18 shows all 16 orders regarding conduct during council or committee meetings were against opposition councillors.

No LNP administration councillors had official orders made against them.

Brisbane City Council staff investigated

Claims council contractor exploits workers

Suburban shopping speed limits to be slashed

Independent Cr Nicole Johnston (Tennyson) received ten orders, followed by the ALP Cr Steve Griffiths (Moorooka) with three, ALP Cr Jared Cassidy (Deagon) with two and Greens Cr Jonathan Sri (The Gabba) with one.

“The fact that the devils are all on one side of the chamber and the other side of the chamber are all angels — no one would believe that,” Cr Griffiths said.

Brisbane City Council chairwoman Cr Angela Owen. Picture: Peter Cronin

In May, just before the end of last financial year, Cr Angela Owen promised a raft of changes to how meetings would be run, including removing herself from party room meetings.

That speech came after Opposition leader Peter Cumming wrote a letter to the CEO to complain of “Cr Owen’s consistently biased rulings”.

Cr Owen told Quest Community News she had set clear parameters in meetings after repeated inappropriate behaviour.

“Anyone who attends these meetings can see that while Council meetings are a place for robust political debate, it is the responsibility of all Councillors to ensure their own behaviour is appropriate for this public forum,” she said.

She said at the latest council meeting she had issued cautions and warnings to multiple councillors, including administration, opposition and independent councillors.

Cr Nicole Johnston. Picture: AAP/Ric Frearson.

Cr Owen said where a councillor’s behaviour was disorderly, it may be noted in the minutes or result in a councillor being suspended.

Cr Nicole Johnston (Tennyson) said she had been “targeted” and “different standards are applied to other councillors, particularly LNP councillors”.

“It doesn’t happen at the federal level or state level. It is a completely partisan and unfair process that I am fighting,” she said.

Cr Griffiths said the chairing of meetings was an “incredibly biased process” and needed to be reviewed by Local Government Minister Stirling Hinchliffe.

He admitted that Cr Owen’s rulings had become “more fair” but not “absolutely fair” since her speech in May, as did his colleague ALP Cr Kara Cook (Morningside).

Cr Cook, who was elected in January this year after working for private, public and not-for-profit outfits, said residents would be “shocked and appalled” at the conduct in meetings.

“What leaders do and say matters,” she said.

She said live video and audio streaming should be introduced to hold councillors to account.

Cr Steve Griffiths. Picture: AAP/Renae Droop

Minister for Local Government Stirling Hinchliffe said he would watch the council’s future proceedings “closely” and expected Queensland councils to apply the rules “fairhandedly”.

“It’s quite remarkable that no LNP Councillors have been the subject of any adverse findings, and I think quite a few Brisbane ratepayers would be scratching their heads to see such a lopsided scorecard,” he said.

“In State Parliament what you see is a much more even-handed approach to these matters.”

The report also noted the two councillors who were forced to make amends for misconduct, inappropriate conduct or disorderly conduct.

According to the report, Cr Peter Matic (Paddington) inappropriately used the council’s resources to publish party-political information was required to reimburse the money.

Cr Nicole Johnston (Tennyson) was fined $6307.50 for failure to comply with Cr Owen’s direction to leave a council meeting. Cr Johnston is fighting the decision in court.

Brisbane Lord Mayor Graham Quirk in the council chamber as he presented the Budget earlier this year. Picture: AAP/Richard Walker