CITY CEO ON JOB
Dickson makes position shortlist
GOLD Coast City Council CEO Dale Dickson – facing a corruption watchdog probe into a complaint against him – is understood to be seeking a renewal of his $600,000-a-year job. A council source said: “He is in the tent. He is in the final 10. They’ll be holding interviews in the Southport Chamber later this week.” Councillors are involved in the process and required to vote to endorse a favoured candidate.
GOLD Coast City Council CEO Dale Dickson – facing a corruption watchdog probe into a complaint against him – is understood to be seeking a renewal of his $600,000-ayear job.
Mr Dickson is among the final rounds of candidates vying for his own job – the top bureaucratic role on the Gold Coast, the Bulletin can reveal.
Mr Dickson is subject to an investigation after council senior staffer Warwick Sinclair lodged a complaint to the Crime and Corruption Commission.
A council source said: “He is in the tent. He is in the final ten (of candidates for the job). They will be holding interviews in the Southport Chamber later this week.”
It’s understood those involved in the selection process will include Mayor Tom Tate, former Lord Mayor of Brisbane Jim Soorley and former Queensland Premier Rob Borbidge.
Sources suggest the council has been blown away by the standard of candidates for the job. Extreme measures are being taken to index candidates to keep names private.
“There are applications from Australia and NZ. Some of them have incredible credentials,” the source said.
A council spokesperson declined to release any details about applicants but confirmed a decision would be made during a special meeting with councillors on February 2.
Councillors will also get to be involved in the process and be required to vote and endorse the favoured candidate.
The decision requires councillors to opt either for Mr Dickson, who steered the city through the 2018 Commonwealth Games and now COVID, or seek a fresh direction. He has held the job since 2003.
The Bulletin on Tuesday revealed Mr Dickson was the subject of a CCC investigation, after Mr Sinclair alleged Mr Dickson misused his authority.
The complaint against Mr Dickson alleges:
● The CEO misused his authority to target Mr Sinclair and delayed the start of his job, causing financial losses.
● He interfered in the recruitment for the job, which denied the process under a merit based system.
● He breached confidentiality by discussing what occurred when Mr Sinclair resigned and the terms of his release in June 2019.
Both Mr Sinclair and Mr Dickson have said they would not be commenting on the ongoing investigation.
Mr Dickson said on Tuesday: “I welcome any investigation by the CCC or any other independent agency regarding my conduct as City of Gold Coast CEO.
“I am yet to be provided with the particulars of any complaint submitted to the CCC. As such, I will not be providing any further comment at this time.”
Mr Sinclair has said he was “disappointed” it had ended up in the public arena. The initial complaint was made in early November and more information was provided to the corruption watchdog in December.