‘Gagged’ mayors speak out after changes to media rules triggering anger from councillors
Ipswich and Redland mayors claim new council media rules silence them, but councillors argue the changes are fair.
QLD News
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An Ipswich City councillor behind claims that he was manoeuvring to gag his mayor has slammed the accusations as “ridiculous”.
Long-serving Ipswich councillor Paul Tully said claims made by Ipswich mayor Teresa Harding were incorrect and her ability to speak publicly on any issue continued to be protected under the council’s media policy.
“The media has done no fact checking over the outrageously false claims by Mayor Harding,” Cr Tully said.
“The only change proposed would be that committee chairpersons will be the lead spokesperson on matters within their portfolio.
“The minister needs to listen to both sides of the story.
“Mayor Harding’s ongoing vendetta against me seems to be part of her push to be a candidate in the LNP Senate team at the 2028 election.”
Tuesday’s gagging claims also prompted Redland City Council mayor Jos Mitchell to publicly accuse her council of trying to silence her.
Cr Mitchell, elected in March with 67 per cent of the overall vote, said a change to council guidelines in December barred her from speaking on behalf of the council if she voted against a majority decision.
She said the alteration to her council’s Media Relations and Speeches Guidelines was made without her knowledge and represented an attempt to diminish her role as an elected leader.
However, those claims were disputed by Redland City councillors Rowanne McKenzie and Paul Golle.
“In the 10 months that I’ve been in office, I’ve noticed a pattern of attempts to restrict the voice or presence of an elected mayor,” Cr Mitchell said.
“The guideline, which is a feeder document to a policy, was changed on December 9 last year, and I was only made aware of the changes after that date.”
Under the new guideline, elected mayors who vote against the majority decision of the council are prohibited from acting as spokespersons on that matter.
“This impacts my ability to speak on behalf of the council,” Cr Mitchell said.
“These kinds of actions diminish the role and function of the mayor, and in turn, diminish the voice of our community.”
Redland Cr McKenzie said the new rules applied equally to all councillors and Cr Mitchell was aware that changes were proposed a month before the changes were made.
Cr McKenzie said the changes were agreed to at the December meeting of councillors which the mayor was invited to but did not attend.
“I don’t understand how Cr Mitchell is claiming that she’s been gagged, as the same guideline that applies to her, applies to all of us,” Cr McKenzie said.
“The mayor is not being gagged by this updated guideline which stipulates that she is still the council spokesman in media releases and says councillors appointed on various committees and advisory groups will also be quoted in addition to the mayor but not replacing her.
“However, the guideline states that if you voted against a majority decision or have a conflict of interest you will not be the council’s spokesman on that issue but you are still allowed to make your own personal commentary.
“We all knew that the media guideline was going to be updated in November and all councillors had been advised by officers before the meeting.”
A Redland council statement said the changes were part of a broader update to the Media Relations and Speeches Guideline.
“Council undertook a review of nine other Queensland councils’ media guidelines to compare and consider possible changes for effective media management and to reflect current practices,” Redland said in a statement.
“These included adding a section stating, ‘Elected members who have voted against a majority decision of council, or who have a declared conflict of interest in a decision, will not be the spokesperson for that decision’.
“The changes also formalised practices, such as identifying priority media releases, pre-approving drafts, and specifying the Deputy Mayor as spokesperson in the absence of the Mayor.”
Queensland Local Government Minister Ann Leahy was unavailable for this story but previously confirmed she was monitoring developments closely.
It is believed she is yet to speak with Cr Mitchell even though she has spoken with Cr Harding.
“Mayor Harding has done an excellent job in bringing this matter to light,” Ms Leahy said.
“It’s vital that any changes affecting the mayor’s ability to communicate with the public are handled transparently and in the best interests of the ratepayers.”
Cr Mitchell said she believed the new guideline was designed to weaken her authority.
“I was elected with just under 53 per cent on the primary vote and 67.67 per cent overall,” she said.
“I do not believe I have the support of the elected council, but I do have the support of the people who put me here.”
Cr Mitchell has also called for reforms to protect the independence of mayors across Queensland, arguing that procedural changes like the one imposed on her should not be allowed to override the democratic will of voters.
“This is a system that needs tightening up,” she said. “We need to look at the framework around the protection of the people that we elect into office.
“There are ways to diminish the voice of a mayor, and we’re seeing that play out right now.”
**After this story was published, Cr Mitchell issued this statement.
“I believe, while the method differs, what was proposed in Ipswich is already happening to a degree in Redlands - an attempt by the majority to diminish a duly elected Mayor.
While speaking for Council is a key part of a Mayor’s role, this decision has broader implications.
I believe this sends the message more broadly, that it’s OK to strip a Mayor of their traditional responsibilities, not because it’s necessary but only because a majority of councillors think the community chose the wrong Mayor. Our communities deserve to have their decision respected.
I want to be clear, in my opinion, this decision was unnecessary, not transparent and politically motivated. I take my role as Council spokesperson seriously and I have faithfully represented the position of Council.
BACKGROUND
On the 17 December 2024 I was advised by a staff member, and later acting CEO, that the Guideline had been changed nearly 2 weeks prior, on 9 December 2024.
I was advised the changes were made due to majority councillor sentiment being expressed during a councillor workshop.
A workshop is not a publicly visible meeting and votes aren’t meant to be taken, so this was done without the public transparency I believe our community expects.
This change reduces my ability to act as Council’s spokesperson. If I do not vote with the councillor majority on a particular resolution, then I won’t be Council’s spokesperson for that resolution.
Redland City Council’s administration pushed forward with changes to Council’s guidelines that prevent me, as Mayor and Council spokesperson, from speaking about any resolution that I don’t join the majority in making.”
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