Toowoomba deputy mayor Geoff McDonald’s colleagues vote on ‘inappropriate’ comments at Blush Ball

Deputy mayor Geoff McDonald found himself at the centre of one of the most controversial moments of Toowoomba in 2022. Now his colleagues have passed judgment on his behaviour, after being required to by a state government body.

Deputy mayor Geoff McDonald’s comments that women could get their breasts checked by a partner of a guest speaker at a breast cancer fundraiser were “inappropriate” but do not require any further punishment.

That was the consensus of Mr McDonald’s council colleagues following an extraordinary December meeting that took several hours to complete and featured several contentious moments.

Councillors were given the “abominable” task of judging the actions of their colleague after the Office of the Independent Assessor passed the responsibility down to the council in line with the Local Government Act.

The OIA’s report was created after a complaint was lodged by lawyer and partner in firm Enterprise Legal Sharne Lategan about comments Mr McDonald made at the charity event on September 3, 2022.

In the statements, which were confirmed by multiple people in the room, Mr McDonald suggested women in attendance could get their breasts checked in the room by the partner of one of the guest speakers, including inside a cubby house which was being auctioned off at the event.

TRC Mayor Paul Antonio (left) and TRC Deputy Mayor Geoff McDonald.

In a letter to council CEO Brian Pidgeon on September 29, deputy independent assessor Charles Kohn said he “reasonably suspected” that Mr McDonald had “engaged in inappropriate conduct” and asked council to investigate.

Mayor Paul Antonio handed down his report at the December 13 meeting, as is his responsibility with matters involving councillor conduct.

Mr McDonald was not present during the debate and neither was colleague Rebecca Vonhoff due to perceived conflicts of interest.

Following a marathon session, council eventually ruled that not only did Mr McDonald make the comments as a councillor, but they were also “inappropriate” and contrary to the councillor’s code of conduct in Queensland.

However, the motion also declared Mr McDonald’s apology through the media (where he said “I apologise if there was anyone offended by the comment, but I make no apology about urging women and men to get their breasts checked”) was sufficient and no further punishment was needed.

Here are some of the highlights from one of the most extraordinary council meetings in recent memory.

Cr Megan O'Hara Sullivan.

McDonald comments called ‘dumb, gormless’

There was little disagreement about the nature of Mr McDonald’s comments, which one colleague called “reckless, dumb and gormless” — what was in contention was whether he made them as a councillor.

While it was established Mr McDonald had enjoyed a long association with Blush Cancer Care and was not advertised as a councillor on the program, it was revealed he live streamed the event from his councillor Facebook account.

Councillor Megan O’Hara Sullivan moved the alternate motion to declare the comments “inappropriate”, arguing the idea Mr McDonald was speaking as a citizen didn’t pass “the pub test”.

“I don’t think we can make it fly that he wasn’t there as a councillor, but we’re being asked to judge him on his worst day,” she said.

“I admit his comments were reckless and no doubt an attempt at humour.

“They were stupid, gormless, dumb, dumb and dumber and in no way do I want to minimise the comments.”

However, Ms O’Hara Sullivan was also quick to point out what she said were Mr McDonald’s good qualities as a councillor and person.

“He is never sexist or demeaning or a misogynist, in fact he is consistently considered, measured, generous and egalitarian and I have found he will go out of his way to make sure others are supported, lifted up and receive praise for the work they do,” she said.

“To me, Geoff McDonald is a decent, dedicated human being who has paid a heavy price for saying a dumb thing on his worst day, but he needs to be judged by all of his great days.”

Councillor Kerry Shine voted against the motion, leaning on the idea that he believed there was reasonable doubt that Mr McDonald was at the event as a councillor.

“I think you are required to give the accused person the benefit of that doubt,” he said.

“The question is not whether you think he was acting as a councillor, it’s whether there is a doubt in your mind as to whether that can be answered yes or no.

“If that’s the case, then that doubt should be exercised in his favour.”

His argument to oppose Ms O’Hara Sullivan’s motion was supported by councillor Carol Taylor and mayor Paul Antonio, who said he was “really disappointed in the way this has gone”.

Ms O’Hara Sullivan’s motion was backed by James O’Shea, Bill Cahill and Nancy Sommerfield, Tim McMahon and Melissa Taylor.

Mayor Paul Antonio. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Mayor accused of ‘bullying’

The controversy started before the councillors had even began debating the matter, after two councillors accused mayor Paul Antonio of “bullying” behaviour by sending an email out the night before the meeting.

The email to his colleagues outlined that any councillor who had discussed Mr McDonald’s comments with anyone could have a conflict of interest.

This prompted a fiery response from Nancy Sommerfield, who said she felt “threatened” by it.

“I could guarantee every one of us has spoken about this issue, it’s been in the paper numerous times, it’s been on radio, it’s been everywhere,” she said.

“Of course we would speak about it, so for you to send an email out like that, saying we would have a conflict of interest, I hope good legal advice was sought, because I found that quite inappropriate.

“I felt threatened by it, I felt like if I had spoke any words about it, I’m not entitled to be in this room.”

Mr Antonio said his letter referred “specifically” to public statements, not private conversations.

But Bill Cahill also raised his alarm at the email, describing it as “verging on bullying”.

“I’m of the view that it was intimidating, threatening and it borders on the verge of bullying, I felt the tone of that email (was),” he said.

Cr Nancy Sommerfield. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Councillors unified against current laws

No matter their disagreements on Mr McDonald’s behaviour, there was one thing the councillors present could fully agree on — no one wanted to be there.

Nancy Sommerfield summarised her colleagues’ collective distaste at having to make judgments on Mr McDonald, calling it “wrong”.

“This is just wrong, I have been anxious and I’d hate to think how anxious councillor McDonald and his family behind us (in the chamber) here have been,” she said.

“I’ve been there, I’ve lived and breathed it, it’s just awful.

“Having had it done to me and the appalling steps I had to go through, it is very difficult and it really takes a toll on your life.

“It is just wrong that we sit here and deliver an outcome today.

“I would like to suggest that we actually write, as a result of this, to the LGAQ and request lobbying to the state government to change the act so this cannot continue to occur.”

Councillor Melissa Taylor agreed, calling the responsibility an “abominable situation”.

“The OIA have refused to make a judgment and put it back on us,” she said.

“It’s abominable that we have to do that.”

Tim McMahon and Bill Cahill also voiced their objections to the exercise in the abstract, while Carol Taylor acknowledged the difficulties but noted it was part of a councillor’s responsibilities.

“I don’t think anyone’s comfortable with it and every council colleague agrees it’s an appalling thing,” she said.

“We didn’t just get into these jobs for the beer and skittles, and (this) is one of the reasons why our community elects us — to sit around this table and make the decisions we think are right.”

Toowoomba Councillor Rebecca Vonhoff.

Incredible number of potential conflicts of interest

Nearly half the room faced the potential of being removed from the discussion over perceived conflicts of interest.

While Mr McDonald sat out as he was the councillor at the centre of the matter, his colleague Rebecca Vonhoff also recused herself following a discussion with the mayor Paul Antonio prior to the meeting.

It related to a statement she sent to The Chronicle as part of the original story on September 7.

Votes were also held to determine whether James O’Shea, Melissa Taylor and Bill Cahill should be allowed in the room due to perceived conflicts.

Mr O’Shea revealed he had family ties to Mr McDonald but believed he could vote without bias.

In Mr Cahill’s case, the potential conflict was dropped on him seemingly without warning by mayor Paul Antonio due to the former’s use of the same law firm as the complainant.

“I don’t understand the nature of this – what’s my representation on a completely different matter compared to this?” Mr Cahill asked.

“The legal firm is merely representing me on another confidential matter.

“I find it highly offensive, but I’m happy to put myself in front of council (to determine my conflict).

“I may wish to take this matter further as an attempt at bullying me.”

Council’s governances and legal services manager Grant Wilson explained that the perceived conflict was raised to protect Mr Cahill from future accusations of bias.

All three councillors were allowed to remain in the room.

Bill Cahill. Photo Bev Lacey

Cahill demands apology

In a contentious moment, councillor Bill Cahill demanded an apology from his colleague Megan O’Hara Sullivan after she compared his appearance at an environment forum to Mr McDonald’s role as MC at the Blush Ball.

The debate came to a halt after Ms O’Hara Sullivan said Mr Cahill had gone to the forum as “Mr Citizen” and not a councillor, something he disputed.

“I challenge councillor O’Hara Sullivan to go and look at the YouTube clip, it wasn’t a matter of whether I was there as a citizen or not,” he said.

“What I clearly stated was these are my personal views as a councillor and they have not been subject to the deliberation of council.

“I ask for an apology there, my position was very clearly articulated for those that were in the room that night.

“I am always a councillor and I am entitled to a personal opinion as one — I ask for an apology.”

When Ms O’Hara Sullivan replied that she “wasn’t sure what you’re asking for me to apologise for”, Mr Cahill said she had insinuated he had a “position of privilege or favouritism”.

“Don’t make an inference that I’ve got some privileged position,” he said.

No apology was given in the end.

Tim McMahon and Melissa Taylor.

Liked comments and burning books

Two normally-placid councillors became engaged in a heated exchange over potential conflicts of interest.

Tim McMahon raised concerns over his colleague Melissa Taylor, telling the chamber that she had “liked” a comment on The Chronicle’s Facebook page under a post about the original story by former TV journalist Caitlin Crowley that was critical of Mr McDonald’s actions.

“I hate to bring it up in regards to councillor Melissa but I have a screenshot from The Chronicle, the article is ‘deputy mayor accused of sexist comments’,” he said.

“The comment made by Caitlin Crowley is quite critical of councillor Geoff and was liked by councillor Melissa.

“I wonder, and I’ll leave it up to the councillor, that considering the context of the comments could this not be a perceived conflict?”

Ms Taylor informed the room that not only had the comment been removed by The Chronicle within 24 hours, but she had met with Mr McDonald privately to discuss the matter.

She also returned fire at Mr McMahon that she was happy to test the chamber on the issue.

“I feel I do not have a bias one way or another (but) if my colleagues feel there is a need for me to step out, I will do that,” she said.

“I’ve sat around this table for two and half years now and made a judgment call on many different things, as have we about burning books in a library.”

Mr McMahon caused controversy in 2021 by arguing a number of children’s books that explored racial equality and gender identity should be removed from the Toowoomba City Library.