Ryan Bayldon-Lumsden: murder-accused Gold Coast councillor in hot water for community event

Murder-accused councillor Ryan Bayldon-Lumsden has returned to social media again, just a week after being warned about his online presence but this time it was different. FIND OUT WHY

Murder-accused councillor Ryan Bayldon-Lumsden has returned to social media again, just a week after being warned about his online presence.

The 30-year-old last week attended a Gold Coast City council-organised family fun day at Molendinar’s Silver Bridle Park on Wednesday.

Hours earlier his official councillor Facebook page, which had been inactive since his arrest for allegedly killing his stepfather Robert Lumsden, featured a post promoting the event.

It was one of three the council will be hosting this month.

On Tuesday his council Facebook page was rebranded as “Ryan Bayldon-Lumsden, Gold Coast” and continued to promote community events.

Ryan Bayldon-Lumsden has been suspended from office. Picture: Nigel Hallett

This time it was a learn to ride event at Parkwood’s Abbott Park. Deputy Premier and Local Government Minister Steven Miles last week said he was seeking advice on the situation.

“Of course, until he is found guilty or not guilty, he’s presumed to be innocent and while suspended as a councillor, he cannot perform the duties of a councillor (but) that doesn’t mean he can’t attend events or participate in the community,” he said on Thursday.

“The initial advice to me was that may have been a scheduled post that was scheduled some time ago when the event was confirmed but I’ve asked my department to advise on both of those matters.

“I’m not going to reflect on (whether it was appropriate for him to attend the event), I don’t know all of the circumstances (but) I’ve asked for advice.

“It’s his responsibility to comply with his bail condition and provided he’s complying with those bail conditions there may not be something stopping him.”

His lawyer Jason Murakami of Behlau Murakami Grant has said Bayldon-Lumsden will be pleading not guilty to murder.

Police arrested Bayldon-Lumsden and charged him with murder on August 23.

Why murder-accused councillor is in hot water for community event

Murder-accused councillor Ryan Bayldon-Lumsden appears to be in hot water with the State Government after promoting and attending a community event whilst suspended from office.

The 30-year-old attended a Gold Coast City council-organised family fun day at Molendinar’s Silver Bridle Park on Wednesday.

Hours earlier his official councillor Facebook page, which had been inactive since his arrest for allegedly killing his stepfather Robert Lumsden, featured a post promoting the event.

It was one of three the council will be hosting this month.

On the post it has his own councillor branding and he wrote “hope to see you there!”.

It’s understood the Department of Local Government will reach out to Bayldon-Lumsden’s lawyers to remind him of his requirements under the Local Government Act as a suspended councillor.

A Department spokeswoman said: “Whilst suspended, Bayldon-Lumsden remains as a councillor but isn’t able to carry out his councillor duties.”

His lawyer Jason Murakami of Behlau Murakami Grant has said Bayldon-Lumsden will be pleading not guilty to murder.

Police arrested Bayldon-Lumsden and charged him with murder on August 23.

It occurred the same day former Gold Coast councillor Margaret Grummitt was formally appointed to stand in for Bayldon-Lumsden.

A facebook post by suspended Gold Coast Councillor Ryan Bayldon-Lumsden promoting a community event at Silver Bridle. Picture: supplied.

Ms Grummitt will be an “adviser” to the council but will not sit in the chamber or have the power of a councillor.

Bayldon-Lumsden, 30, was charged with murdering his stepfather Robert Lumsden in August and was suspended from office until the March 2024 election.

However he remains the sitting councillor for Arundel, meaning he cannot be directly replaced.

The post bears Bayldon-Lumsden’s councillor branding and the council’s logo. Picture: supplied.

Instead Ms Grummitt, who previously spent three terms as a councillor representing the area, will be an adviser who works for the Director-General of the Department of State Development. In her role she will work from the Division 7 office and will speak with constituents and members of the community and work with council to deal with them.

Ms Grummitt will remain in place until March and has ruled out contesting the election.

Deputy Premier and Local Government Minister Steven Miles said Ms Grummitt would take up the role on Monday.

Margaret Grummitt. Picture Mike Batterham

“While a suspended councillor is unable to be replaced, an alternative option to appoint an adviser has been taken,” he said.

“This will ensure the people in Division 7 on the Gold Coast continue to have an access point into Council.

“I would like to thank Ms Grummitt for agreeing to be the Adviser, and I know her knowledge of the council will be invaluable to this role.”

Ms Grummitt, a long-time police officer, was first elected to the council in 2000 and represented the area which now takes in Division 7 until 2004.

She was re-elected in 2008 and again in 2012 before retiring in 2016.

Earlier this year she was considered to fill the casual vacancy left in Division 4 by the election of then-councillor Cameron Caldwell to federal parliament.