Bundaberg Mayor Jack Dempsey to face Councillor Conduct Tribunal

The Office of the Independent Assessor has confirmed in a letter to a complainant that it “reasonably suspects” Bundaberg mayor Jack Dempsey breached the Local Government Act. LATEST DETAILS

The Councillor Conduct Tribunal will schedule a hearing about a complaint submitted against Bundaberg Mayor Jack Dempsey of alleged “suspected misconduct”.

The Office of the Independent Assessor confirmed in a letter to the complainant that it “reasonably suspects” Mr Dempsey breached the Local Government Act.

“Following an investigation into this matter and having considered all the information available, the Independent Assessor now reasonably suspects, pursuant to section 150W(1)(c) of the Local Government Act 2009 (the Act) that the complaint involves misconduct and has made an application to the CCT to deal with the matter, under Chapter 5A, Division 6 of the Act,” the letter reads.

The Office of the Independent Assessor has forwarded a complaint against Bundaberg Mayor Jack Dempsey to the Councillor Conduct Tribunal.

The complaint alleges that Mr Dempsey failed to declare a conflict of interest at ordinary meetings of the Bundaberg Regional Council on August 30, 2016 and November 2, 2016.

On May 6, 2021, the matter was referred to the OIA legal team for consideration of referral to the CCT.

A confirmation letter from February 15, 2022 stated the complaint had progressed, and would be heard by the CCT.

“If a councillor is found by the CCT to have engaged in misconduct, the decision of the CCT will be published at that time,” the letter stated.

The Mayor has been contacted for comment.

An OIA spokesperson told the Bundaberg NewsMail that these matters could take “up to two years” for an outcome.

Mr Dempsey’s behaviour came under fire earlier this week when he accused one of his councillors of speaking to the media after the councillor - Greg Barnes - spoke against the timing of the $75.8m aquatic centre.

A source, who watched the drama unfold during a live streaming of Tuesday’s council meeting, said they had made a complaint to the council watchdog in relation to the incident and the Mayor’s conduct.

In July, the OIA demanded Mr Dempsey update his councillor register of interests after he failed to do so 30 days after running as an independent for the Hinkler seat in the federal election.

In May 2022, Mr Dempsey and council CEO Steve Johnston accused the OIA of inconsistency and of sending “test” cases to the tribunal, a claim rejected outright by the body.

The OIA was established under the Local Government (Councillor Complaints) and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2018 as part of the Queensland Government’s commitment to local government reform.

The IA’s functions and powers include:

• to assess complaints about councillors of inappropriate conduct, misconduct or, when referred by the CCC, corrupt conduct
• to refer potential inappropriate conduct matters back to councils to resolve
• to investigate misconduct complaints
• to prosecute misconduct in the Councillor Conduct Tribunal
• to re-prosecute matters following CCT findings when reviewed by councillors to QCAT

Originally published as Bundaberg Mayor Jack Dempsey to face Councillor Conduct Tribunal