Qld politics: Council watchdog OIA faces overhaul after vexatious complaints

A Queensland watchdog is on notice, with Premier David Crisafulli saying its complaints process is too easily abused.

Premier David Crisafulli in Parliament on Monday. Picture: Steve Pohlner

Premier David Crisafulli has vowed to overhaul Queensland’s council watchdog, warning a flood of petty complaints is driving good candidates out of local government and stripping mayors and councillors of their power.

Mr Crisafulli ruled out abolishing the Office of the Independent Assessor, but guaranteed local government reforms to protect councillors from “silly games” and reputational hit-jobs.

He said the current system was deterring community-minded locals from running for council, as the complaints process was too easily abused to pursue personal vendettas over trivial matters.

“I don’t like the state government controlling functions where you should have accountability for local decision-makers to be able to make decisions,” Mr Crisafulli said.

“And I have seen that power stripped away and I’m not comfortable with it.

“I want to devolve power back to councils and then the communities can hold them accountable.”

He pointed to investigations launched against Member for Gregory Sean Dillon, who as Barcaldine mayor in 2021 had raised concerns in a council meeting about the Covid-19 vaccine rollout.

The OIA, created just three years earlier, ultimately dismissed the complaint after then premier Annastacia Palaszczuk labelled it a storm in a teacup.

Local Government Minister Ann Leahy

But complaints have continued to rain down on councils since, with Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate a regular target, including over calling another councillor a ranga, while Mount Isa’s council faced 140 watchdog complaints in the previous term alone.

Mr Crisafulli said he was uncertain when Local Government Minister Ann Leahy would table the reforms, but endorsed her decision-making, saying, “I would suspect they’re not too far away.”

A ministerial expectations list signed by Mr Crisafulli urges Ms Leahy to reform the OIA and the Councillor Conduct Tribunal following consultation, to ensure they are fit for purpose.

Ms Leahy would not give a precise timeline, but said her election commitment would be honoured within this term.

“This will ensure we strike the right balance between empowering councils and meeting community expectations,” she said.

Among her first acts as minister was to suspend Townsville Mayor Troy Thompson for 12 months on full pay while the Crime and Corruption Commission investigated claims he had misrepresented his credentials.

Asked if he would seek to remove Mr Thompson should he be cleared by the CCC, and whether such a suspension undermined council autonomy, Mr Crisafulli said he would not speculate.

“But I’ll make this point, and that is that city is yearning for leadership at the moment, and it’s really important to what we want to achieve as a state,” he said.

“And at the moment, I am eagerly awaiting the findings from the CCC.”

Originally published as Qld politics: Council watchdog OIA faces overhaul after vexatious complaints