We'll accept sack, won't sue like Ipswich: Logan councillor

EXCLUSIVE: A WHISTLEBLOWING Logan councillor facing the sack declares he won't follow the "distasteful" act of seven Ipswich pollies suing for unfair dismissal.

A WHISTLEBLOWING Logan councillor facing the sack has declared he won't follow the "distasteful" act of seven Ipswich pollies and sue for unfair dismissal.

Seven Logan councillors were charged with fraud following a Crime and Corruption Commission investigation, and Local Government Minister Stirling Hinchliffe is considering his legal options.

Darren Power was one of four Logan councillors who blew the whistle with concerns of colleagues' conduct.

The 22-year council veteran said the four remaining councillors would not sue for unfair dismissal, like Ipswich's former councillors had done.

"We could use ratepayers money... but we wouldn't do that, it's just not us," he said.

"That would be too hard for residents to swallow."

Logan councillor Darren Power.

Cr Power believes the decision of David Pahlke, Cheryl Bromage, Wayne Wendt, Paul Tully, Sheila Ireland, Charlie Pisasale and David Morrison to sue Ipswich City Council for unfair dismissal would hurt their chances if they stood for election again.

"It's so politically distasteful, Ipswich residents just won't swallow it," he said.

Cr Power questioned how the problems could flourish in Ipswich for so long.

"The biggest problem in Ipswich was they've got separate offices but in Logan, except for one person, we have all our offices in the main building," he said.

"I can't imagine any person with a lot of experience wouldn't know what was going on... but it's a judgement call."

Cr Power said the "demise in the standard of councillor over the past two decades" had contributed to poor conduct, which he had been calling out.

"I started reporting this stuff to the minister and the CCC a very long time ago," Cr Power said.

"I'd already reported before things happened at Ipswich."

With only four councillors remaining in Logan and a council dismissal likely, Cr Power admitted they were prepared to "accept the umpire's decision on this".

Ipswich councillors' case is likely to be heard in court in June.

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Originally published as We'll accept sack, won't sue like Ipswich: Logan councillor