Watchdog says it is time to change

THE boss of Queensland’s embattled council watchdog says she needs more resources or the laws governing her job rewritten as she acknowledged the distress councillors were feeling in sometimes over-thetop charges.

Independent Assessor Kathleen Florian told a parliamentary inquiry investigating her office that councillors were being investigated for misconduct that could technically see them sacked for behaviour that didn’t warrant that.

Ms Florian said the laws were unclear on issues, including a councillor’s implied right to political expression. Ms Florian was questioned about the distress councillors felt about misconduct complaints for minor transgressions, which carried a potential penalty of termination of office.

“When you’ve got uncertainty about something, you have two options – you amend the law or you get certainty through the process,” she said.