Gold Coast City councillor Ryan Bayldon-Lumsden, accused of killing stepfather, pleads to return to work

Murder-accused Gold Coast councillor Ryan Bayldon-Lumsden has reconsidered his decision to attend a committee meeting, just hours after he was urged to stay away by Acting Premier Steven Miles.

• Legal advice: ‘Very difficult’ to stay

Murder-accused Gold Coast councillor Ryan Bayldon-Lumsden has reconsidered his desire to attend a committee meeting on Tuesday, just hours after he was urged not to attend by Acting Premier and Local Government Minister Steven Miles.

Cr Bayldon-Lumsden, 30, was freed on bail last Thursday after being charged with murder after allegedly fatally strangling his allegedly abusive and controlling stepfather Ronald Lumsden, 58, at their Arundel home on August 23 during a struggle.

Cr Bayldon-Lumsden had initially hoped to attend Tuesday’s meeting despite being issued with a “show cause” notice why he shouldn’t be suspended until next year’s local government election.

While there was technically nothing stopping Cr Bayldon-Lumsden attending the meeting, Mr Miles said he “encouraged the councillor to consider taking leave for the short term until I make my decision”.

“In the spirit of that process I urge him not to attend (Tuesday’s) committee meeting,” he said.

Ryan Bayldon-Lumsden has reconsidered his plan to attend Tuesday’s council meeting. Picture: Nigel Hallett

Overnight, Cr Bayldon-Lumsden’s lawyer Jason Murakami, of Behlau Murakami Grant, said his client had reconsidered his position following Mr Miles’ comments.

“Whilst we are waiting to be served with the show cause notice, our client remains eager to return to serve his community but does respect the Acting Premier’s request to wait for his determination …and therefore will be withdrawing from (today’s) council meeting,” Mr Murakami said.

Mr Miles, acting on Crown law advice, said the councillor would be given until this Friday to show cause why he should not be suspended on full pay from his $160,000-a-year council job until the March council election.

It had been understood that Cr Bayldon-Lumsden wanted to get back to work and is keen to dial into Tuesday’s meeting of the planning and lifestyle committee – of which he is deputy chair – remotely.

Councillors had been expected to vote on a procedural motion whether to allow him to participate in the meeting – a move backed by Mayor Tom Tate.

“He just wants to serve his community,” Cr Bayldon-Lumsden’s lawyer Jason Murakami said earlier.

Cr Bayldon was released on Supreme Court bail after his mother, Southport State High deputy principal Katrina Bayldon, gave harrowing evidence about her partner Robert Lumsden’s “controlling irrational behaviour” and its impacts on the family.

She also agreed to put up a $250,000 surety on the Arundel home where the alleged murder took place to secure her son’s freedom.

Cr Bayldon-Lumsden is also required to wear a GPS tracker, report to police three times a week and live with his girlfriend at Burleigh Heads.

Robert Lumsden was allegedly killed by his stepson, Ryan Bayldon-Lumsden. Picture: Supplied

There is nothing legislatively stopping Cr Bayldon-Lumsden from running for re-election, and the suspension will be revisited if Cr Bayldon-Lumsden chooses to run again and is re-elected.

Cr Bayldon-Lumsden, 30, was released from Brisbane Correctional Centre at Wacol on bail last Thursday after being charged with the August 23 murder of his stepfather Robert Lumsden, 58, at their Arundel home.

Sources said that while there was an option for Cr Bayldon-Lumsden to take leave from his $160,000-a-year council job on full pay, he was keen to get back to work for his northern Gold Coast community.

Under the Local Government Act a councillor is automatically suspended if they are charged with a “disqualifying offence” – all of which fall under the umbrella of charges related to treason, integrity offences or crimes against the electoral act.

“Disqualifying offences” range from stuffing ballot boxes, dishonest conduct, official corruption and bribery. The charge of murder is not a disqualifying offence.

A councillor automatically loses their job if they become bankrupt, made to serve jail time suspended or otherwise, die, or take up a higher office like state parliament.

Gold Coast City Councillor Ryan Bayldon-Lumsden is released from Brisbane Correctional Facility after being charged with killing his stepfather Robert Lumsden. Picture: David Clark

A councillor can also be removed if the Minister “reasonably believes” they are “incapable of performing their responsibilities”, it is in the public interest to suspend or dismiss them or if the councillor has “seriously or continuously breached the local government principles”.

Cr Bayldon-Lumsden was expected to meet Mayor Tom Tate early this week to discuss his future.

But speaking on Monday, Mayor Tate said he respected Mr Miles’ decision.

“Following this decision by Steven Miles, I have also not had the chance to meet or speak with Cr Bayldon-Lumsden and won’t be today,” he said.

“I’m sure Cr Bayldon-Lumsden has a lot more to consider between now and Friday, so I will leave him to consider what he needs to do until then.”

On Friday Cr Tate said he wanted to support Cr Bayldon-Lumsden’s mental health and find out what he wanted to do.

“Here’s the thing – you’re innocent before proven guilty and he’s a wonderful guy, as you know,” he said.

A Supreme Court bail hearing was told the 53kg councillor allegedly fatally strangled his 115kg stepfather during a struggle after enduring years of emotional abuse as well as death threats.

Cr Bayldon-Lumsden has vowed to defend the charge of murder, which his barrister told the court took place against an “appalling” background of “serious” domestic violence.

Cr Bayldon-Lumsden’s lawyer, Jason Murakami, said earlier on Monday he was awaiting the show cause notice “so we can respond to the minister”.

He was freed on bail after his mother put up a $250,000 surety against the Arundel house, where her long-time partner Mr Lumsden died, backing her son’s claims about his “irrational controlling behaviour” in an affidavit filed with the court on the bail application.

Cr Bayldon-Lumsden, who was elected in 2020 as youngest-ever Gold Coast city councillor, has been fitted with a GPS tracker and must report to police three times a week as part of his bail conditions.