Bundaberg council discusses ‘suspected inappropriate conduct’

This week’s Bundaberg Regional Council meeting went behind closed doors to discuss a mysterious ‘suspected inappropriate conduct’ issue, in which several councillors declared a conflict of interest.

The Bundaberg Council Chambers. This week’s meeting went behind closed doors to discuss a mysterious ‘suspected inappropriate conduct’ issue, in which several councillors declared a conflict of interest. Photo: Mike Knott / NewsMail

Bundaberg councillors have deferred making a decision on a mysterious ‘suspected inappropriate conduct’ matter which materialised in the past week.

The matter, which was not listed on the March 15, briefing agenda for Wednesday‘s meeting, was discussed behind closed doors in the council meeting held on Tuesday, March 21.

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Several councillors declared conflicts of interest in relation to the matter, including councillors Wayne Honor, John Learmonth, Greg Barnes and Steve Cooper.

Mr Learmonth declared a conflict of interest in having a family member married to a family member of a person under discussion in the confidential matter.

Mr Honor, Mr Barnes and Mr Cooper did not reveal any further details before the doors were shut to the public.

Mr Honor abstained from voting on the matter when it went to confidential discussion.

Councillor Wayne Honor abstained from voting on the confidential matter of ‘suspected inappropriate conduct’.

When council doors reopened following the confidential discussion, the gallery was informed that no decision had been made and the matter would be deferred to the next council meeting.

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Bundaberg Regional Council has been subject to criticism for having an ‘outrageous’ number of confidential items on the agenda for council meetings.

 15 confidential items were discussed in a 2019 Bundaberg Regional Council meeting.

Originally published as Bundaberg council discusses ‘suspected inappropriate conduct’