Dubbo mayor Ben Shields quits after two months of turmoil

Dubbo mayor Ben Shields will today resign from council, exactly two months after he attempted to take his own life. Read his resignation letter.

Dubbo mayor Ben Shields will today resign from council, exactly two months after he attempted to take his own life – saying the continuing infighting on council has become “too much to handle”.

The 40-year-old handed his letter of resignation into Dubbo Regional Council’s CEO on Monday, with his decision to quit coming after almost four years as mayor.

Mr Shields’ decision comes exactly two months after he was found unconscious at his home on March 31.

Since then he has spent a month in hospital – including a week on life support – made a dramatic return to work, defended himself against allegations of bullying and harassment, and faced calls for his resignation.

But Mr Shields has now bowed down to the political pressure, telling The Daily Telegraph he needs to focus on his health and that his formal resignation will come into force on Thursday.

Ben Shields will today quit as mayor of Dubbo, saying the continuing infighting on council has become “too much to handle”.

“The reality is I just can’t handle the attacks anymore, I’m too crook,” Mr Shields said.

“My doctors have said I’ve got to rest up and take a few months off, I’ve got to get better.”

Mr Shields was named mayor of Dubbo Regional Council in 2017 but has been a local councillors since the age of 18, when he was still at high school.

He admits that local government is all he has known and refused to rule out ever making a return, but that will not be at the upcoming September council elections across NSW.

“The reality is I don’t know anything other than local government, I live and breathe it,” Mr Shields said.

Mr Shields sent this letter of resignation to Dubbo Regional Council CEO Dean Frost on Monday.

“The September election, that’s off the cards for me. but I genuinely don’t know (if I will return), part of me says yes – part of me says no.

“For the foreseeable future, I’ve got to get better.

“I’ve got a significant mental health issue that I need to recover from.

“(For my) family and friends, once I explained what’s going on with me, they were supportive of it – some of them are disappointed, but the ones who saw me almost dead are pleased I’m going.”

Mr Shields’ decision to quit will come as welcome news to a large group of opposition councillors.

Mr Shields was named mayor of Dubbo Regional Council in 2017 but has been a local councillors since the age of 18, when he was still at high school. Picture: Ryan Young

Mr Shields‘ decision comes exactly two months after he attempted to take his own life on March 31, after which he was rushed to hospital and placed on life support. Picture: Supplied.

A group of six rival councillors, led by deputy mayor Steven Lawrence, first circulated a letter on March 31 calling for him to stand down.

They were last week joined by local MP Dugald Saunders who said it was time for Mr Shields to “do the right thing”.

“I’m just really at the point now where there doesn’t seem to be any other way forward other than for him to step down,” Mr Saunders said.

Nationals MP Dugald Saunders last week called for Mr Shields to stand down. Picture: Facebook

“This is not a popularly elected mayor, this is a mayor that was elected by the councillors.”

Earlier this month Mr Shields spoke out for the first time about the past two months.

“Over the first seven days, my partner and parents didn’t leave my bedside,” he said.

“I was effectively almost dead three times. The pill caused the liver failure … and then my heart gave out, so they had to revive me even though I was in a coma, three times.

“I had a dark spot on my lungs which gave me hospital acquired pneumonia, they tried antibiotics but I had to be flown to Sydney to get a specialist surgeon to cut parts out.

“I had a drain in for a week to drain out all the puss (from the infection).

“I was in unbelievable pain, I’m still in pain, even when I twist my body sharp pain will come along.

Mr Shields has previously called for an administrator to be appointed to independently investigate Dubbo Regional Council.

It is understood he will call a final council meeting as mayor for Thursday afternoon.