Labor Councillor Peter Cumming charged with drink driving

A longstanding Brisbane councillor fought off tears as he addressed allegations of drink driving today, saying he had not learnt from mistakes made by the likes of Redlands Mayor Karen Williams.

A longstanding Brisbane councillor almost broke down in tears today while facing the possibility that his career, spanning almost three decades, could be over after he was charged with drink driving less than 200m from his bayside home.

Labor Councillor Peter Cumming, who has been the Wynnum Manly representative for 29 years, is considering his future after he got behind the wheel under the influence of alcohol following a work-related party on Christmas Eve.

Cr Cumming said he spent four hours at the Christmas party, having around six beverages, including several heavy beers, Bundaberg rum and Cokes before having self-mixed spirits.

Cr Peter Cumming fronts the media after being charged with drink driving.

He said he then got in his council-owned car across the road from the venue on Bay Tce just after 6pm but hadn’t started the vehicle before a resident notified police, who approached his car then gave him a breath test where he recorded a blood-alcohol level of 0.13 per cent.

His car was parked within walking distance of his office and his home.

“If police hadn’t pulled me over then, I may have driven off, so it may have been my good fortune and the good fortune of the community that I was apprehended when I was,” Cr Cumming said.

“I’m 62 and behaving like this, it’s pathetic.

Cr Peter Cumming has been the Wynnum Manly representative for 29 years.

“My home is just down the street, so why I would’ve jumped in the car in those circumstances is ridiculous, I just should’ve walked home, it’s just stupid.”

Cr Cumming said he “obviously hadn’t learned” from the mistakes of other politicians, including Redlands Mayor Karen Williams who pleaded guilty to high-range drink driving after crashing her luxury council-owned station wagon in July last year.

“As an elected person I think you have more responsibilities to behave in an appropriate manner and I failed to act in a responsible manner,” he said.

Peter Cumming (left) at a local Australia Day event. Picture: Renae Droop

Cr Cumming said it was his first time drink driving and he would plead guilty to medium range drink driving when he faced Wynnum Magistrates Court Monday.

He also said Council Opposition Leader Jared Cassidy told him he should “consider his options” which included retiring in the near future — something he will be taking into account “very severely”.

“As well as doing the wrong thing by the community, I’ve let the Labor Party down, I’ve let Jared down, I’ve let our team in City Hall down,” Cr Cumming said.

“I’m throughly disgusted with how I behaved in this case and I deserve any punishment I receive from the court on Monday.

“Drink driving is totally unacceptable behaviour, it costs 1300 lives a year … I’m sorry for what I did but there’s no excuse.

Councillor Peter Cumming could retire after being charged with drink driving. Picture: AAP/Regi Varghese)

Cr Cumming, whose popularity in the area was evident by residents walking by during the press conference and showing their support, said if he was to resign and hand the ward over to a Labor nominee, he would have to wait until at least late March.

“That decision hasn’t been made as of yet but at some stage in the near future the Labor Party will call for expressions of interest to run for this ward at the next election, that’ll be the time I need to make the decision,” he said.

“It’s a big step (possibly retiring), I’ve loved this job, I’m ashamed to be acting like this stage, I’ve been in for 29 years, I’ve won eight elections but that’s no excuse for my behaviour.

“It’s difficult, I’ve been casting my mind to things I could do if I was retired, it’ll be a big transition.”

Cr Cumming said he wasn’t aware of any disciplinary action coming from the council and he would not be taking any leave.

“People need work done for them and have issues they want to raise with me, it’s my fault that I’m in the situation where I am and I’m not going to let people down by having leave,” he said.

He said he had employed Wiseman Lawyers for his appearance in court, where the minimum sentence would be a suspended license for three months.

Cr Cumming also said he would be seeking treatment for his alcohol consumption.

Transport Minister Mark Bailey said Cr Cumming should resign from council.

“If there’s any risk of drink driving, take a cab, take a ride share, get a friend to drive,” he said.

“As a public official that’s been entrusted by the public with an endorsement to represent them, it’s just not on.”

Redland City Council Mayor Karen Williams pleaded guilty to a high-range drink driving charge last year, but did not stand down from her job.

She also faced pressure to resign, including from Mr Bailey.

“I will say no difference to what I said with Karen Williams,” the Minister said on Friday.

“It’s unacceptable. I’ve always had a very hard line on drink driving long before I was a Minister.”