Ipswich City Council clears Andrew Antoniolli of conduct breach allegations after comment that ‘distressed’ staff

An independent investigation has found that comments in local media from a South East Queensland councillor “distressed” council staff, while clearing him of conduct breach allegations.

Ipswich councillor Andrew Antoniolli at the Catalyst Church. Picture: Adam Head

A South East Queensland councillor has been cleared of conduct breach allegations although an independent investigation found his comments in local media “distressed” its council staff.

Ipswich councillor Andrew Antoniolli, who served as the city’s mayor seven years ago, commented in local media last October, criticising council organisers of inviting food trucks to the Dinosaur Discovery family event at the council-owned Nicholas St Precinct, taking away business from nearby permanent restaurants.

Mr Antoniolli was also allegedly disrespectful to council CEO Sonia Cooper when she told him the staff was upset by his comment and would refer him to the Office of the Independent Assessor, which has not made any findings in relation to the matter.

In a general meeting on Wednesday, the council decided that Mr Antoniolli did not engage in any breach of conduct as he won five votes of his eight fellows, despite an investigation by human resources firm Workplace Edge finding both allegations were sustained.

Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding, who believed Mr Antoniolli breached his conduct, said the council leasing and event teams which he criticised were “high performing”.

“The claims that were made in the newspaper article to me were factually incorrect and also not what happened in a correct way,” she said.

“I do have concerns with how councillor Antoniolli did manage this rather than coming to the CEO.”

Veteran councillor Paul Tully, who voted against the allegations, said Mr Antoniolli had the right to make such a comment.

“Councillors’ right to raise matters of public importance in his or her role as an elected member is a fundamental right of the council and the right of the community to be informed of such matters,” he said.

“The comments by councillor Antoniolli were made in response to one media outlet following complaints from traders in the mall, who had leasing contracts with the Ipswich City Council, that their takings have been seriously affected by the decision of the council to permit food trucks.

“Cr Antoniolli’s comment was not portrayed by him as the official view of council.”

Mr Antoniolli, who left the meeting to prevent a conflict of interest, said he was humbled by the outcome.

“I watched the meeting externally and took on board everything that was said,” he said.

“I have, on numerous occasions, apologised about my words as particularly to those who were offended.

“There was never any intention for that, and I have been working with those staff since then.”

He said everybody has moved on and should move on at this point.

Mr Antoniolli was charged with fraudulently using the council's community donation funds to buy charity items at auction in 2018, prompting the then mayor to step down and the state government to sack the council, but he was cleared of all allegations two years later.

After he was cleared of all allegations two years later, he returned to the council in the latest term.

Ms Cooper will notify the OIA of the decision, with the full investigation report, which nearly $19,000 was spent on, being made publicly available within 10 business days.

Originally published as Ipswich City Council clears Andrew Antoniolli of conduct breach allegations after comment that ‘distressed’ staff