Kate Richards remains defiant in tearful last speech

A Brisbane city councillor referred to the corruption watchdog and dumped by her own party has vowed the truth will be revealed, in an emotional final speech.

Brisbane LNP councillor Kate Richards remains unrepentant.

A COUNCILLOR who was dumped as a candidate and referred to the corruption watchdog by her own party has insisted the truth will be revealed.

Kate Richards made an emotional speech where she held back tears in her final council meeting as the LNP councillor for Pullenvale ward.

Kate Richards reasserts loyalty to LNP despite being dumped

LNP refers Brisbane Councillor Kate Richards to Crime and Corruption Commission

She was referred to Crime and Corruption Commission by the LNP in December and replaced as the party’s candidate for the ward.

The LNP has never revealed the allegations it has made against her.

“As I know, the truth will be revealed, and so too the faceless men who have bullied, harassed and acted on threats,” Cr Richards said at the council meeting.

She said despite what she had been through, she was standing by her oath of office as the councillor of the Pullenvale Ward and had continued to turn up every day to work.

When contacted by The Courier-Mail, a Brisbane City Council spokeswoman said Cr Richards had delivered her general business speech to the chamber and advised she had nothing further to add. She has previously denied any wrongdoing

“It’s business as usual, as I care about my community and I truly love this city,” she said.

During the council meeting, Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner thanked her and said she was entitled to natural justice.

Outgoing LNP councillor Kate Richards

“People should not jump to any conclusions about the circumstances under which Kate is not continuing on,” he said.

“Obviously, these are difficult circumstances we’re in at the moment, but we want to thank you for the way you’ve handled yourself during this period under really, really difficult and personally stressful and challenging circumstances.”

Speaking in the chamber, Deputy Mayor Krista Adams praised Cr Richard as a “compassionate and hardworking local councillor”.

“The people of the Pullenvale Ward have no idea what they’re missing out on,” she said.

“I hope that you find whatever makes you happy after March. You deserve to have great success in whatever you choose to do.

“Know that the team here, that Team Schrinner, will be there behind you all of the way.”

Labor leader Jared Cassidy moved an urgency motion, voted down by the LNP, that Cr Kate Richards be stood down from official council duties.

Cr Richard’s lawyer Terry O’Gorman has previously said that he believed it was “most unlikely” that she would be charged with a criminal offence.

“She has been subject to undermining, she has been subject to white-anting ever since she was pre selected three or four years ago,” he said at the time.

An LNP spokesman said it was a matter for the party to decide who should be their candidate.