Former Mount Isa City Council worker Simon Mutonhori allegedly ‘pressured’ staff to shoot animals

A regional Queensland council manager has been accused of “pressuring” staff to classify cats and dogs as feral and shoot them instead of impounding them.

The Mount Isa City Council claims staff members were “pressured” by former worker Simon Mutonhori to shoot dogs and cats instead of impounding them. Generic image: iStock

A regional Queensland council manager has been accused of “pressuring” staff to classify cats and dogs as feral and shoot them instead of impounding them.

Simon Mutonhori, Mount Isa City Council’s former Manager of Environment, Regulatory Services and Land Use, was dismissed last December following the disturbing allegations.

Court documents have revealed the council raised seven allegations against Mr Mutonhori, including euthanising animals in breach of procedure.

It is alleged he “pressured” staff to classify dogs and cats as “feral” animals so they could be euthanised immediately instead of impounded.

Mr Mutonhori “became agitated” when staff refused and “yelled aggressively” at an employee causing “significant distress,” the Mount Isa Council allege.

He also allegedly solicited unlicensed individuals to euthanise impounded animals and asked an employee to provide their gun so an unlicensed employee could use it.

The Mount Isa Council allege Mr Mutonhori described it as a “covert operation” and asked an employee not to tell senior management.

Mr Mutonhori denied the allegations when they were first presented to him upon his suspension, arguing they were “frivolous, vexatious and lacked merit,” according to court documents.

But despite his ongoing denials, the council found the bulk of allegations against Mr Mutonhori to be substantiated and terminated his employment on December 20, 2023.

Mr Mutonhori has filed proceedings against Mount Isa City Council in response, alleging various breaches of the general protections provisions under the Industrial Relations Act.

But according to court documents published this week, he had failed to do so within the required 21 days post-dismissal.

During proceedings before the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission, Mr Mutonhori argued this was due to a combination of not being able to afford to obtain legal advice and deficient legal advice.

Industrial Commissioner Daniel Pratt concluded Mr Mutonhori’s circumstances did not meet the criteria for “exceptional circumstances” – which would allow for an extension to the filing period.

Mr Mutonhori’s application relating to his termination was dismissed, but his application relating to his suspension prior to termination was permitted to proceed at a date to be set.

Mr Mutonhori had previously applied for interlocutory reinstatement, along with a suppression order on his identity to “protect [his] professional reputation and integrity”.

Both applications were dismissed, however.

It’s understood Mr Mutonhori moved to Australia in June 2023 after being suspended, then dismissed, from his employment at Wairoa District Council.

Wellington Employment Court documents reveal Mr Mutonhori had taken the Wairoa District Council to court, but was unsuccessful in his application to be reinstated.