DISCOVERY OF MAYORAL DIRECTIVES
2013: The Newman Government changes the rules giving mayors more power to issue mayoral directives. The intent is to streamline decision making. August 2017: Councillor William Owen-Jones first learns from a colleague that the Mayor had issued a directive relating to the Helensvale golf course. September 2017: Cr OwenJones asks that the following Question on Notice be placed on a council agenda: “Could you please provide a copy of all notices issued to the Chief Executive Officer, and senior Executive Employees, under section 12 (4) (d) of the Local Government Act”.
October 2017: The Question is tabled at a full council meeting. Colleague Glenn Tozer asks the CEO for a copy of the same. November 2017: The Question on Notice is subsequently removed from the agenda for the council meeting. Several councillors approach Cr OwenJones about this and ask what had happened. Cr Tozer advises that he had discussed the matter with the Director General of the Local Government Department and that following advice he intended to raise a general business item at the governance committee. December 3, 2017: At governance committee, Cr Dawn Crichlow was absent and Deputy Mayor Donna Gates left the meeting early due to media commitments. Cr Tozer raised the general business item. It was seconded by Cr Daphne MacDonald. Cr Paul Taylor voted against the motion, and Cr Boulton abstained. He gets support from Cr Owen-Jones and Cr McDonald.
December 8, 2017: The Cr Tozer recommendation is rejected by full council. In a day of unprecedented political bloodshed, committee chairs are changed with Cr Owen Jones axed for Cr Bob La Castra. March 9: The Bulletin reveals Mayoral directives to the CEO may have conflicted with council policy. In a Right to Information request, two directives concerning staffing matters were denied. Council CEO Dale Dickson declines to comment on staffing issues. March 17: Today’s report shows complaints about mayoral directives have been sent to the Crime and Corruption Commission and the Local Government Department, that the allegations include the Mayor Tom Tate ordering Mr Dickson not to discipline a staffer.