‘Send a chill’: Motion to ‘gag’ Ipswich mayor tabled

Councillors have paved the way to gag Ipswich’s mayor from speaking out about important issues in an unprecedented move sparking fears it will “send a chill’’ through the region’s economy.

Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen

Ipswich councillors have paved the way to gag mayor Teresa Harding from speaking out about important issues in an unprecedented move which a fellow southeast mayor fears will “send a chill’’ through Ipswich’s economy.

Ms Harding has contacted Local Government Minister Ann Leahy about the dramatic motion, which came after a similar move last year by the same councillors to remove the mayor as chair of the Local Disaster Management Group.

Ms Harding blamed the latest action on political rivals following her efforts to stamp out alleged former “integrity failures’’.

In what was believed to be an unprecedented move by a Queensland local government, six out of nine Ipswich councillors tabled the motion, on January 28, including high-profile rival Paul Tully.

It would mean Ms Harding could no longer speak on behalf of council on major matters, with committee chairs instead becoming the lead spokespeople.

The motion would come into effect when passed, which could be at any future council meeting.

Ipswich Councillor Paul Tully. Picture: Ipswich City Council.

Ms Harding would still be able to issue media releases, speaking as the mayor, but that could expose her to complaints to council watchdog the Office of the independent Assessor.

Logan Mayor Jon Raven said he was not concerned about similar tactics but criticised the motion.

“Mayors are the spokespeople for their city and are chosen by the community. Motions like this undermine people’s confidence in all local governments,’’ he said.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if this motion sends a chill through Ipswich’s economy.’’

Ms Harding took to the airwaves this morning to blast those behind the motion.

“I fail to see how this motion is serving anyone other than Councillor Paul Tully,’’ she told 4BC.

“They’re removing the powers of the mayor by stealth. If you want to be the mayor, run for mayor and let the people decide.

“I think it’s undemocratic and it’s disgusting.

“I’ve certainly notified the local government minister that this is under way.

“I certainly have showed her the current policy and what is proposed, so we’ll see what happens.”

Mr Tully was approached for comment.

The Local Government Association, Redlands City Council and City of Moreton Bay were also contacted for comment.

Local Government Minister Ann Leahy. Picture: Evan Morgan

University of Queensland political expert Graeme Orr said it did not appear to be a gag, but

Griffith University associate professor in politics Paul Williams said the changes did not seem to ‘’pass the pub test”.

Dr Williams said Australians expected their leaders, including mayors, to “speak on any matter”.

Ms Harding said she was not aware of any other example in Queensland politics where a mayor had been gagged by another councillor from speaking to their community on behalf of council.

“This is an extraordinary political attack aimed at gagging a mayor from representing the council and community they were democratically elected to lead,” she said.

“This motion would effectively remove me from any media statement or response to a media inquiry that relates to the decisions or business of Ipswich City Council.

“While I would continue to be able to make media comments in my own capacity, this motion would gag me from speaking on behalf of council.

“What we are seeing here is a motion designed to strip me of my role of representing Council and the Ipswich community in the media, and a blatant abuse of the powers entrusted to councillors.’’

Redland mayor Jos Mitchell, who heads a factionalised and divided council, showed support for her Ipswich counterpart.

In a social media post this morning, Ms Mitchell said: “actions that diminish the mayoral role and function, diminish the voice of the majority of residents who voted us in to represent them.”

Ms Mitchell was recently criticised for not supporting an Olympic whitewater venue in her city despite the majority of councillors supporting the proposal.

Her opponents said she should not represent the council on an international trip next month to promote the 2032 Olympics.

Ms Harding said she believed the motion was payback for her criticism of “integrity failures” that previously existed in the city and which led to the entire council being sacked by the state government seven years ago.

Mr Tully was one of the current councillors to lose their jobs after two mayors and several city officials were charged. He was never accused of any wrongdoing.

In 2022, he faced a backlash after trying to block Ms Harding from renaming the Paul Pisasale bridge, which was named in honour of the jailed former councillor.

The councillors eventually backed down and the bridge was renamed.

Originally published as ‘Send a chill’: Motion to ‘gag’ Ipswich mayor tabled