Townsville City Councillor explains why he kept his job in a State Department
Another job in a state department, a drug test and a pilates business — these are declarations of interests Townsville City Councillors have made.
News
Don't miss out on the headlines from News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A Townsville City councillor has denied that his dual-employment with the Department of Main Roads is a form of ‘double dipping’ or a conflict of interest.
Division 8 councillor Andrew Robinson, an accountant by profession, earns about $135,123 for his role and said his advisory financial position for TMR was “comparative”.
He said there was financial benefit to his superannuation if he was to use his accumulated leave to officially remain on the department’s books until October, which was when he intends to resign from his long-term position.
Mr Robinson said he hoarded his annual leave and his long-service entitlements, which he has used in his successful campaign leading up to the local government election in March.
But he realised that if he was to quit TMR immediately and get paid out in one lump sum it would not include his superannuation perks.
“I would be entitled to that anyway,” Mr Robinson said.
“In order to avoid this headache, it was easier for me to just take the leave.
“Whilst I did not take on the challenge of being a councillor for financial gain, I did not want to lose a legitimate entitlement, from my former employer, due to an administrative process.
“I’m my particular case I’ve been working for 15 years for TMR, you can appreciate that’s a reasonable sum.”
Mr Robinson said there had been no perceived conflict so far in the council chamber, but that he would need to determine if it did exist with decision making and then take “appropriate action”.
“Again, more for transparency than a requirement, remember that TMR is a large organisation that has many branches, with each branch usually operation in their own silo and independent of the other branches.”
The Townsville Bulletin looked at all councillors’ declaration of interests, and Mr Robinson listed his TMR role as well as interest in shares from MESI Foundation and ICON Capital Interest as additional sources of income.
Mr Robinson said councillors were able to have other forms of employment, and in smaller councils under smaller grades of remuneration, which could be about $60,000, this might even be necessary, and that under local government legislation a “government entity” was not considered to be a close associate of a local government, and in normal circumstances would not be considered a conflict.
Mr Robinson said he would have to resign from TMR once his leave ran out because he would not be able to hold both jobs given the responsibilities as an elected representative was full-time “and then some”.
Mr Robinson’s other declarations also includes the 609m2 property he resides in at Aitkenvale.
He also declared his partnership in a commercial fishing licence, and his directorships for Marathon Consolidated and Foundation Consolidated.
Mr Robinson has shares in Telstra, and in private food and butcher business MBL Food Services and iKon Pack.
His assets also include a Holden FJ Ute he was restoring, and his “beaten up” 1992 Harley Davidson Sportster XLH 1200.
Mayor Troy Thompson
Mr Thompson is on a salary of $225,206 but as of yet has declared no ownership of properties or assets over $10,000.
He has declared nine bank accounts across six different institutions including overseas banks, and shares in private owned company People N Pty Newspaper as its sole shareholder.
Mr Thompson is a trustee for a superannuation fund and an investment trust.
With memberships he has no affiliation with political parties or unions, but is the member of five sporting clubs including the North Queensland Cowboys and Parramatta Eels rugby league clubs.
He declared his interests in Business Accelerate and Peoples News could also potentially be perceived conflicts.
Mr Thompson’s declared gifts valued at more than $500 include campaign sponsorship and support during his campaign from AP Williams Builders, John Honeycombe and his mother Janet Thompson, as well as a corporate box ticket to the Cowboys Anzac Day Round.
Deputy Mayor Paul Jacob
The Division 1 councillor is on a salary of $153,145 while in his Deputy Mayor role, while also representing a massive division that includes Bohle Plains, Deeragun and Alice River while its northern border includes Mutarnee and Paluma.
Assets Mr Jacob has declared includes a 7960sq m property he resides in at Bluewater, and a Jayco Penguin caravan.
He is an Australian Labor Party member and a political member of the United Workers Union.
Mr Jacob has declared one gift worth more than $500, which was a corporate box ticket to Supercars.
Division 2 councillor Brodie Phillips
The Division 2 councillor represents communities such as Bushland Beach, Burdell, Mount Low and Saunders Beach.
Mr Phillips has declared no assets, land or liabilities.
But he does have shares in Pantoro Limited, which is a Perth based gold miner with its two projects based in Western Australia.
He lists a gift of two tickets for the Cowboys vs Warriors game from the North Queensland Cowboys.
Division 3 councillor Ann-Maree Greaney
Ms Greaney represents a versatile division which includes the CBD, South Townsville, Magnetic Island, North Ward, as well as Garbutt and Mount St John.
She lists a 1012sq m residential property in South Townsville that she occupies, as well as a home loan and mortgage.
Memberships include the Brothers Leagues Club, the Cowboys Leagues Club and the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Gifts include a deceased estate, political donations to the past two Team Jenny Hill fundraising campaigns of which she was associated with, two Magnetic Island cruise tickets from the Bank of Queensland, two tickets to the Horn vs Tszyu Fight from Tourism and Events Qld.
Division 4 councillor Kristian Price
Mr Price’s division includes Kelso, Rasmussen, Condon and Gumlow, but also Pinnacles and Granite Vale.
But he is the owner-occupier of a 700sq m property in Kirwan.
Aside from this he has declared no other assets or memberships, except for a $500 donation from former federal Herbert candidate Steve Clare, with a description of “drug test for research for campaign”.
“I took the test to prove I was not a drug cheat or take drugs if I was elected,” Mr Price said.
“I wasn’t the only one, there were five including the mayor.”
Mr Price said he was surprised other councillors including Mr Thompson did not declare this in their statements, and that there were other councillors that refused to take it.
“Steve Clare paid for it, but he got his money back if my test came back negative, which they did,” Mr Price said.
Division 5 councillor Vera Dirou
Ms Dirou represents Mount Louisa, Kirwan, Thuringowa Central and Cranbrook.
She is the owner-occupier of an 822sq m property in Thuringowa Central.
Her memberships include Labor as well as the Community and Public Sector Union.
Ms Dirou’s additional sources of income come from the Department of Defence and the Defence Home Ownership Assistance Scheme.
Ms Dirou had travelled due to her husband’s military service while she also has worked more than 20 years in various roles within the Department of Defence.
Division 6 councillor Suzy Batkovic
The former Olympian basketballer represents suburbs such as Douglas, Annandale, Condon, Thuringowa Central and Murray.
Ms Batkovic has declared a 598.5sq m residential property in Douglas.
She is a director of Basketball Australia, and a life member of Townsville Fire and WNBL, which entitles her to two tickets to each basketball game she attends.
Football Qld donated tickets to the Matildas vs Ferns, JCU Townsville Fire donated two season tickets, and she received a Pink ticket from Queensland Country Bank Stadium.
Division 7 councillor Kurt Rehbein
Mr Rehbein represents the suburbs of Cosgrove, Mount Louisa, Kirwan and Heatley.
His declared assets include a 1000sq m property that he resides at in Aitkenvale, a Toyota HiLux and a Kia Carnival.
Mr Rehbein is a member of the ALP, the Australian Institute of Company Directors and the United Firefighters Union.
His other sources of income include being on the Local Government Association of Queensland’s board and as the region’s representative, which was through his role as councillor.
But Mr Rehbein is also listed as a casual firefighter.
He said he had slowed down fighting fires in recent years, following his melanoma diagnosis and after breaking his neck.
But he said it was a position that he could return to if he left public office.
Division 9 councillor Liam Mooney
Mr Mooney represents a large number of suburbs including Railway Estate, West End, Hyde Park, Rosslea, Hermit Park, Currajong and Pimlico.
Besides declaring a 500sq m residential property in Idalia used for the purposes as a rental, Mr Mooney had little else to declare.
He listed his affiliations with the AWU, and ALP Queensland.
Division 10 councillor Brady Ellis
Mr Ellis’s enormous division includes Cape Cleveland, Mount Stuart, Alligator Creek, Cluden and Wulguru.
He is a landlord of a 997sq m rental property in Marino, and is the occupier of a 587sq m property in Idalia.
Mr Ellis declared his pilates studios that are leased at the Easbrooke Health Hub in Thuringowa and at the Precinct Idalia, which he equally shares with his wife Lily.
He is affiliated with the Liberal National Party, and has also donated more than $500 to the Brighter Lives Hospital Foundation.
His listed liabilities include loans and a vehicle for his business, while his assets include his Ford Raptor, Holden Commodore and his pilates business.
Originally published as Townsville City Councillor explains why he kept his job in a State Department
The Killers coming to Townsville to kick off Aussie tour
Get ready to scream Mr Brightside at the top of your lungs, American rock band The Killers are coming to Townsville! Check out the full details.
Council offers compromise to Magnetic Island resort residents
The Townsville City Council has offered a compromise to almost 100 long-term residents of a resort on Magnetic Island to resolve a dispute in the Planning and Development Court. Find out more.