$15K independent report finds Redland mayor did not breach conduct code

Redland Mayor Jos Mitchell has been cleared of misconduct, but councillors must vote on Wednesday on whether to endorse the $15K independent investigation’s findings and close the matter.

Redland City councillors will vote on a number of recommendations on Wednesday.

Redland City Mayor Jos Mitchell will have to wait until Wednesday to find out whether her own council will uphold the findings of a $15,000 independent investigation that cleared her of breaching the Councillor Code of Conduct.

The report, prepared by external consultancy BDO, found no evidence to support claims that Mayor Mitchell misled the public in a December 2024 social media post relating to a council visit to the Southern Moreton Bay Islands.

The findings will be tabled at Wednesday’s April 16 General Meeting, when councillors are expected to vote on whether to endorse the outcome.

The matter stems from a Facebook video posted by Mayor Mitchell in which she responded to a news article about a July 2024 site visit to the islands.

In the video, she stated she had not been invited on the visit, a comment that prompted two formal complaints to the Office of the Independent Assessor, alleging she had misrepresented the facts.

Redland mayor Jos Mitchell was found not to have breached the councillor code of conduct after a Facebook post about a visit to a bay island.

However, the independent report has confirmed the mayor’s statement was accurate.

The investigation found Mayor Mitchell was not initially invited to be part of the delegation and only learned of it after receiving a July 3 email from council staff.

She subsequently asked to attend but was unable to do so due to a scheduling conflict.

The report acknowledged that the video omitted some context, including the fact that the mayor later requested to be included on the trip, but found that the omission did not amount to dishonesty or a breach of the code.

“The evidence supports that Mayor Mitchell was not initially invited to the SMBI visit … therefore, supporting that Mayor Mitchell’s statement … is factually correct,” the report stated.

The investigation also reviewed written comments made by the mayor on the same post, including her statement that she had not been advised of the delegation and her description of the process as “very disappointing”.

Investigators found the remarks were either accurate or expressed as opinion, and did not constitute misconduct.

Redland council is now legally required to consider the findings under section 150AG of the Local Government Act 2009.

Councillors have the option to reject the report’s conclusion but would need to publicly explain their reasons and ensure they are documented in the official minutes.

Although there is no disciplinary action proposed, as the report concluded there was no breach of conduct, all councillors must vote on whether to accept the report’s outcome and whether to make the report publicly available, with redactions as necessary, within 10 business days of the meeting.

The investigation cost ratepayers $15,592 and followed all procedural fairness requirements, including giving the mayor an opportunity to respond to preliminary findings.

Mayor Mitchell, who was elected in March 2024, has not publicly commented on the investigation’s outcome.

If the report is accepted, the matter will be formally closed, and the OIA will be notified of the decision.

Redland City Council’s General Meeting on April 16 will take place at its Cleveland administration centre.

Originally published as $15K independent report finds Redland mayor did not breach conduct code