REMEMBER WHEN

THE State Government’s call for councillors to stand down while they faced prosecution was a case of the pot calling the kettle black, it was claimed.

The stand-off between the Gold Coast City Council and the Queensland Government escalated, with accusations the Beattie administration was only taking action for political ‘pointscoring’.

Adding to the already obvious defiance of some Gold Coast councillors, Local Government Association of Queensland executive director Greg Hallam said placing the spotlight on the council was ‘politically convenient.’

“It suits the State Government’s purposes to use this issue to deflect attention from their shortcomings,’’ he said.

“If they had found legal grounds to sack this council they would have, because there’s political votes in it.’’

Mr Hallam said former health minister Gordon Nuttall had been allowed to remain in government despite a CMC finding that he lied to a parliamentary estimates committee.

He resigned from his portfolio, but escaped prosecution on the charge thanks to the Labor Party’s majority.

“Gordon Nuttall didn’t (stand down), so why should they?’’ said Mr Hallam.

“They (the State Government) don’t apply the same standards to themselves as they do to local government. We’re not going to be anyone’s patsy.’’

Cr Peter Young, whose dossier on the council resulted in the inquiry, said the LGAQ’s role was to strengthen local government and its attitude was a ’complete mystery’.