CCC council investigation: matters referred to the Office of Independent Assessor

The State’s corruption watchdog has announced it has finalised its investigation into Gold Coast City Council. Here’s what will happen next.

THE State’s corruption watchdog has finalised its investigation into the Gold Coast City Council and will take no further action — but several matters have been referred to the Office of the Independent Assessor.

The Crime and Corruption Commission has also written to council CEO Dale Dickson to recommend he consider taking internal disciplinary action against one staff member.

In a statement released today, the CCC declined to name the staffer or make further comment.

Council CEO Dale Dickson and Mayor Tom Tate. Picture: Richard Gosling.

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But it confirmed that as a result of the operation, some matters relating to the alleged failure of Mayor Tom Tate to meet obligations under legislation governing local governments and a council policy have subsequently been referred to the OIA for further consideration.

To strengthen the council’s corruption prevention framework, the CCC has recommended the council make improvements to a range of policies and their staff code of conduct to clarify the expectations of council employees.

A public report on aspects of the investigation in light of the public interest in these matters will be released, the CCC says. It is expected to be published in January.

The CCC says it will not be commenting further until the publication of the report.

The CCC commenced Operation Yabber in August 2018 to investigate allegations of corrupt conduct relating to senior employees and councillors at the GCCC.

The scope of the operation was wide and considered numerous allegations from multiple complaint files.

Allegations examined during Operation Yabber broadly included:

• Failing to declare conflicts of interest across various issues involving numerous councillors and staff

• Voting on proposals when gifts and benefits were received from proposal applicants

• Voting on proposals while having a material interest in the outcome

• Acting in conflict with council policies and procedures

• Providing misleading information to council for self-benefit

• Misusing council funds

• Allegations relating to decisions involving Black Swan Lake at Bundall and the Waterglow development in Surfers Paradise.

Kathleen Florian, Independent Assessor, will handle council matters. Picture: Peter Wallis.

A previous media release issued by the CCC in April 2019 outlined that no corrupt conduct was identified in relation to the matters involving Black Swan Lake and the Waterglow project.

In a statement, the CCC said: “With regards to the remaining allegations that were investigated, the CCC interviewed a number of people who had publicly and privately raised allegations of corrupt conduct relating to the GCCC.

“Based on the interviews and an examination of material not readily available to the public, the CCC has not identified any evidence to support allegations of corrupt conduct as defined in the Crime and Corruption Act 2001 that would meet the threshold for criminal prosecution. “On that basis, the CCC will not take action against any elected official from the GCCC.”