Council conduct cases tested

AT least 29 investigations of suspected misconduct of Gold Coast City councillors have been launched after allegations including conflict of interests.

The Office of the Independent Assessor has referred nine complaints to other agencies including six matters sent back to the council to investigate.

The OIA in three complaints recommended those matters be referred to the Councillor Conduct Tribunal for independent investigation.

The key allegations against councillors related to their management of conflict of interests, breaches of trust and the accurate recording of registers of interest.

Council insiders predict more complaints given the division within council and numerous planning applications where councillors become conflicted due to political donations.

But Mayor Tom Tate did not seem concerned by the number, saying there had bene more dismissals “than the English cricket side’’ against him in the past five years alone.

Independent Assessor Kathleen Florian admitted the Coast had a “misleading spike” after the launch of the OIS with more than half the complaints about council’s decision to fill Black Swan Lake at Bundall.

Investigators found most complaints were about environmental issues outside of the jurisdiction of the OIA.

“Some of the complaints did raise conduct issues but were matters that were under investigation by the Crime and Corruption Commission,” Ms Florian told the Bulletin.

“In respect of those matters, we dismissed them on a basis that they’re currently being investigated by another agency.

“But we’ve engaged with the CCC and said that if there is any misconduct which arises out of those matters that they will refer back to us to deal with at the appropriate time.”

Ms Florian said it was difficult to put a time frame on the 29 ongoing investigations.

“We’re obviously progressing them on a priority basis. Some will happen more quickly than others,” she said.

“We also communicate with the councillors and give them the option of fast tracking the matter to the tribunal if they agree with the allegation.”

Mayor Tom Tate also linked the complaints with the protest movement against Black Swan Lake.

Ms Florian said it was important that the community saw the complaint process as “accountable and transparent”.

She said public updates would be available once matters were concluded.