Complaints under investigation

Council hit with nearly 60 allegations of corrupt conduct over 2017/18

NEARLY 60 allegations of corrupt conduct were made against the Toowoomba Regional Council over the last financial year.

According to the council’s Operational Plan Progress Report for the fourth quarter of 2017/18, 58 allegations of corrupt conduct were made to the council during the financial year, with 33 investigations finalised.

The remaining 25 allegations remain under investigation.

The report also said that for the 2017/18 financial year, 276 complaints or allegations (including allegations of corrupt conduct) had been made to the council, with 45% of investigations completed within policy time frames.

Toowoomba Regional Council CEO Brian Pidgeon said the council had zero tolerance for corruption and fraud and was committed to acting in the best interest of the community and upholding the principles of honesty, integrity and transparency.

“Council has a structured governance framework and an integrated approach to fraud prevention, detection and processes for responding to suspected fraudulent activity and corruption,” he said.

“Council regularly assesses corruption and fraud risks to establish the level and nature of exposure to internal and external threats for all functions and operations.

“In cases where council has responsibility for applying discipline, council considers all circumstances including legal and industrial legislation before determining the level of discipline that is appropriate to the circumstances.”

Mr Pidgeon said complaints, complainants, subject officers, witnesses and investigations are treated and managed confidentially, in accordance with council’s Complaint Management Framework and the Public Interest Disclosure Act 2010. If any councillor, employee or affiliate is suspected of engaging in, or participating in such conduct, the council and its officers are obliged by law to refer the matter to the relevant agency,” he said.

The Chronicle previously reported that five instances of corrupt conduct - ranging from water theft to leaking customer and confidential business information to a third party have been investigated and substantiated by the council since July 2017.