Kerry Shine photo scandal: Councillors’ stunning move to stop further commentary

In a unsual turn of events, Toowoomba councillors have signed a joint letter vowing not to speak any further about the Kerry Shine photo scandal – just a day after it was revealed who took the image.

Councillor Kerry Shine. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Toowoomba councillors have vowed not to speak further about the photo scandal that has plagued the organisation for months, as questions still remain as to how the compromising picture of Kerry Shine ended up on social media.

Deputy mayor Rebecca Vonhoff on Monday revealed she had taken the photo of Mr Shine asleep in his chair during the meeting, which ended up circulating in online spaces just weeks before the council elections.

Multiple council insiders said the photo’s circulation on Facebook community pages by fake accounts appeared to be an attempt to discredit Mr Shine.

Ms Vonhoff, who apologised to Mr Shine and the community for her actions, said she didn’t distribute the photo online and “did not circulate the photo outside (the) chamber” but would not elaborate on how it ended up on Facebook.

Deputy mayor Rebecca Vonhoff. Picture: Kevin Farmer

The deputy mayor was further pressed on Tuesday about who distributed the photo, but declined to personally comment.

Instead, all councillors later released a statement saying they had discussed the matter following Tuesday’s committee meetings.

“(Councillors) noted that an apology has been given and accepted,” the statement said.

“We have agreed not to comment further on the matter.”

It comes after polls showed a majority of Chronicle readers wanted the councillor responsible to come forward.

Mr Shine confirmed he received a call from Ms Vonhoff on Friday over the incident.

“I did accept the apology — we all make mistakes, it’s a pity that it hadn’t been made earlier, and it took a fair bit of doing for it to be made,” he said.

“Rebecca was quite remorseful about it, and I’m sure if she had her time over again, she wouldn’t have done it.

“We all have our faults, but she (has) a lot of good qualities as well – I prefer to think about those than anything else.”