KICK THEM OUT
CALL FOR COUNCIL BOSSES TO BE STOOD DOWN
FRUSTRATED Palm Islanders have called for the sacking of the council’s chief executive and for the Mayor and his deputy to step aside.
It comes as John Mugambi Mwamba, 50, the deputy chief executive officer and financial services director for Palm Island Aboriginal Shire Council, was charged with 24 counts of fraud after an extensive investigation by the Crime and Corruption Commission.
Mayor Alf Lacey and Deputy Mayor Roy Prior were both named in charges against Mr Mwamba, who is accused of dishonestly applying a “banking credit” belonging to the council. There is no suggestion of wrongdoing by either Cr Lacey or Cr Prior, both of whom have not been charged.
However, chief executive Ross Norman on Thursday revealed the council had a “cashflow issue” of approximately $1 million. Mr Norman hasn’t been charged with any offence.
Indigenous activist and council employee Lex Wotton questioned how the council, under the stewardship of Mr Norman, ended up financially vulnerable and called for Mr Norman to be sacked.
“He should be held accountable.”
Mr Norman could not be contacted for comment.
Mr Wotton said he also wanted Cr Lacey and Cr Prior to stand aside.
“If this happened in any other community, if you’re real honourable, then you would step aside and let the investigation continue,” Mr Wotton said.
Mr Mwamba, a council employee since 2007, allegedly committed the offences between December 2016 and January 2019.
Sources close to the investigation said the charges against Mr Mwamba relate to improper use of a council-issued credit card.
Ray Sibley, who has previously challenged Cr Lacey for the top job, said he too believed Mr Norman and the two councillors should stand down.
Townsville MP Scott Stewart said Local Government Minister Stirling Hinchliffe had to act within the law, and was not in a position currently to force councillors to step down.
Mr Stewart said he understood Palm Island residents would be “unhappy and disgruntled”.
He advised them to voice this during local government elections in March 2020.
The State Government yesterday announced it had recognised the “critical financial situation” faced by the island’s council and had begun the process of appointing a financial controller and governance advisor.
“Assistance will also be provided by the department to council with respect to its infrastructure needs,” Mr Hinchliffe said.
“Over the last few months the department has also been working with engineering consultants to compile asset condition reports for the island’s water treatment plant, wastewater treatment plant and raw water network.”
The reports, which make recommendations about infrastructure works, maintenance, processes and resourcing matters, will be provided to the council in full.
“This assistance package is being provided at the request of council with the best interests of the Palm Island community at its core,” Mr Hinchliffe said.
Cr Lacey said the whole council welcomed the assistance.
Cr Prior refused to comment.