JPL: CCC will clear people caught up in council probe

JOHN-PAUL Langbroek believes Mayor Tom Tate and his council are innocent of corruption claims and has bagged the media for reporting on it.

The Surfers Paradise MP and former Opposition leader was speaking on tough local government law reforms in Parliament this week, which the LNP oppose because it would ban developer and not union donations.

The Bulletin has reported on a number of investigations launched by the Crime and Corruption Commission in recent months. It is looking into council’s conduct concerning Black Swan Lake, the Bruce Bishop car park and development.

When asked for comment about the CCC probes, Councillor Tate and CEO Dale Dickson have maintained a consistent response.

Cr Tate says that “I respect the confidentiality of the CCC” and Mr Dickson has welcomed any independent investigation.

Mr Langbroek spoke about “potentially vexatious complaints being made”.

“It does really concern me that some of the media report on every complaint and write about that complaint and the person who is being complained about as though it is a done deal,” he said. “These complaints are often made by the same group of people who are unhappy with a decision.”

Mr Langbroek said the extensive reporting by the Gold Coast Bulletin would “start to make people question whether everything is hunky-dory at the Gold Coast City Council”.

“I cannot pass judgment about whether everything is OK at the Gold Coast City Council. I would hope that many of the people who are implicated in what the CCC is going to investigate end up being okay as a result of it.

“I am confident that, with their knowledge of procedure, there will be nothing they will have to answer for.”

Mr Langroek singled out the powerful business lobby group campaigning to stop council’s sale of the city’s biggest asset, Bruce Bishop car park, in his Surfers Paradise electorate.

“The same people who complained about light rail not going through Surfers Paradise are now stooping to say that the current mayor is embroiled in corruption with the CEO of the council in relation to anything he has ever been involved with,” he said.

Speaking in support of the new laws, Gaven Labor MP Meaghan Scanlon said residents wanted to be reassured that their ratepayer money was being spent wisely. A new independent assessor rather than the council CEO will determine complaints and new code of conduct for councillors introduced.

“I know that a lot of Gold Coasters have been keenly awaiting the introduction of these reforms,” Ms Scanlon told the Parliament.