Toowoomba council: Leaked photo of Kerry Shine asleep raises questions around boardroom

The leaking of a photograph depicting a councillor asleep in his chair that was then spread online has raised concerns about behaviour within the Toowoomba council, with one insider calling it ‘appalling’.

TRC councillor Kerry Shine. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Claims of childish and appalling behaviour within the Toowoomba Regional Council ranks have been exposed after a secret photo was taken of a councillor appearing to be asleep during a meeting was leaked to the public and spread online.

The picture of veteran politician and former state MP Kerry Shine appearing to be asleep in his chair, which News Corp has viewed but chosen not to publish, appeared on public social media pages just days before the 2024 local government elections.

The image continues to circulate among the community’s key stakeholders and is still raising eyebrows from some of the city’s most influential people about the fractures within the ranks.

Multiple council insiders say the distribution of the photo, while embarrassing, was designed to discredit Mr Shine.

It has been suggested a councillor took the photo, and also that one of Mr Shine’s colleagues had suggested a staff member was responsible.

Toowoomba mayor Geoff McDonald with the 2024-2028 councillors outside City Hall.

Mayor Geoff McDonald and councillors at the time Melissa Taylor, Carol Taylor, James O’Shea, Bill Cahill, Edwina Farquhar, Megan O’Hara Sullivan (now former) and Tim McMahon have all said they didn’t take the photo or were aware of its existence before it appeared on social media.

Deputy mayor Rebecca Vonhoff was also asked and provided a response (see below), but did not address the specific question.

Former councillor Nancy Sommerfield was contacted but did not respond in time for publication.

It was revealed Mr McDonald told his councillor colleagues that someone needed to apologise to Mr Shine for the act, however no one has stepped forward to take responsibility.

Multiple council employees spoke to News Corp on the condition of anonymity about the photo scandal, describing it as “appalling”.

“The mayor should stand up in this instance, it (taking a secret photo of someone) is a total lack of respect for the position – it turns my stomach,” they said.

“It’s been swept under the carpet.

“Whoever took the photo should apologise – it’s a terrible disrespect to the chamber, the ratepayers, the council and the position,” they said.

The council insider said their aim was not to run council down, but to improve it by shining a light on the toxicity.

“The sooner someone owns up to their mistake, the sooner we can all move it – I haven’t forgotten it,” they said.

Another person in council called the incident “disappointing” but believed the atmosphere of the new council was changing.

When asked about the photo, Mr Shine said he would not pursue the matter further but reminded people about the responsibility attached to sharing photos.

“We all have phones and we can all take photos, so if people do take photos, they should be aware of the consequences of sharing it,” he said.

“I was told about it a short time after it occurred (and was told) it was sent into the LNP circles.”

Toowoomba Regional Council Mayor Geoff McDonald and Deputy Mayor Rebecca Vonhoff discuss council under their leadership, Thursday, August 10, 2023. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Inquiries from News Corp prompted a uniform response from the council’s leadership, with both mayor Geoff McDonald and deputy mayor Rebecca Vonhoff insisting the 11 councillors were working as a team and were supporting each other.

Mr McDonald said he was aware of the photo, but considered the matter resolved and not reflective of the current council.

There were two changes to the line-up of councillors at the March 17 election, with Gary Gardner and Trevor Manteufel replacing Nancy Sommerfield and Megan O’Hara Sullivan.

“I made the point when this was well known to councillors that the good work of the past six can all be undone if we don’t continue to have the respect of people you’re supposed to have respect for,” Mr McDonald said.

“It’s a new term and I’m very pleased with how things are progressing.

“Kerry hasn’t raised it with me since it was addressed before the end of term.”

When asked about her knowledge of the photo and its reflection on the council, Ms Vonhoff said she was focused on the current term.

“We are working really well for the community, so our focus is on the work,” she said.

“It is a new term and with new terms come new opportunities, and we’re working beautifully with the opportunities.”

Key stakeholders in Toowoomba said the incident raised alarm bells about the council’s culture in the boardroom, with one anonymous member saying it was “a symptom of a group in a really bad way”.

Other Toowoomba figures, who also asked not to be named because they frequently do business with the council, called the photo’s distribution “immature” and “disgusting”.

“Why would you embarrass a colleague like that? You’re not in primary school, it’s immature,” one person said.