Local Government (Dissolution of Ipswich City Council) Bill 2018

As Minister for Local Government, introduced the bill to dissolve the Ipswich City Council following CCC investigations that revealed entrenched corruption, governance failures and a culture of fear among council staff, arguing the people of Ipswich needed certainty through appointment of an interim administrator until 2020.

“There are no circumstances in which I could stand by, knowing what I know, hearing what I hear, reading the allegations that I do, and do nothing.”— 2018-08-21View Hansard

As shadow minister, supported the bill but heavily criticised the government for taking too long to act, noting the LNP had called for an administrator three months earlier. Moved amendments to insert 'Labor' into the bill's title and to require publication of advisory committee members' names.

“It would have been far better to deal with this Labor Party poor behaviour and deceit back in May rather than have the litany of stuff-ups that we have seen over the last three months from this government.”— 2018-08-21View Hansard

As committee chair, supported the bill, noting the committee recommended passage after hearing from councillors and residents in Ipswich. Argued the CCC report showed systemic governance failures requiring collective accountability.

“I think Ipswich city is a great place with a storied history and an exciting future. We best support Ipswich by supporting this bill—going through this difficult period and coming out the other side better for it with public confidence restored.”— 2018-08-21View Hansard

Supported the bill as a former mayor who had himself been sacked from local government. Expressed sympathy for innocent councillors caught up in the scandal but agreed the corruption needed to be addressed.

“It is a very sad day when the minister has to bring into this House legislation to sack the Ipswich City Council. From our perspective, it is even sadder that, basically, the opposition has to support the government in that.”— 2018-08-21View Hansard

As committee member, supported the bill but criticised the government's bungling over three attempts to resolve the situation, including two failed show-cause notices. Noted the bill breaches fundamental legislative principles.

“The LNP will not be opposing this bill because it finally achieves an outcome we have been calling for for months.”— 2018-08-21View Hansard

Supported the bill as necessary to provide certainty to the Ipswich community, but warned against using the situation to centralise control of councils or remove local decision-making powers. Called for advisory committee members' names to be published.

“I will not be opposing the bill because there also is a crooked culture at this specific council that needs to be fixed.”— 2018-08-21View Hansard

As local member, strongly supported the bill, citing the collapse of public confidence following CCC investigations revealing entrenched corruption, lack of transparency and bullying of staff by some councillors.

“Ipswich cannot keep going like it is with the ongoing state of crisis it constantly finds itself in, lurching from one scandal to the next.”— 2018-08-21View Hansard

Supported the bill but emphasised it should be seen as extraordinary, noting over 99 per cent of councillors across Queensland have no complaints against them. Criticised the government for allowing the situation to fester and for taking three attempts to resolve it.

“Something does not fester unless it is allowed to remain in a state for a long period of time. Something does not become systemic unless it has had an opportunity over many, many years to ripple all the way through an organisation.”— 2018-08-21View Hansard

Supported the bill but criticised the government for not acting when allegations were first raised by the member for Bundamba, allowing the corrupt culture to become entrenched. Raised concerns about the bill breaching fundamental legal principles.

“This legislation would not be required and further time wasted in this House if the appropriate action was taken at the time before this conduct became systemic.”— 2018-08-21View Hansard

As Premier, supported the bill as fulfilling her commitment to take definitive action following the CCC's damning report. Argued councillors were collectively responsible for the council's failures of governance.

“The standard you walk by is the standard you accept. Despite their protestations of innocence, the councillors have walked by a standard that the people of Queensland do not accept and that my government does not accept.”— 2018-08-21View Hansard

As Leader of the Opposition, supported the dissolution but blamed the Labor Party for the mess, noting the council was dominated by Labor members and the government had ignored warnings for years, including from its own member for Bundamba.

“If you make the mess then you should clean it up. This mess is 100 per cent owned by the Queensland Labor Party.”— 2018-08-21View Hansard

Gave a powerful speech supporting the bill as the local member who had for years raised corruption allegations about the council, facing intimidation, threats and political retaliation. Called for a forensic audit, shutdown of council private companies, and review of the planning scheme.

“I am here today even though my father is gravely ill in the ICU unit at the Ipswich Hospital. I am here at his express wish to cast my vote to sack this wicked, evil, wretched and corrupt council.”— 2018-08-21View Hansard

Supported the bill but criticised the government's incompetence in handling the situation, noting the bill was only needed because the minister's attempts under the Local Government Act had failed. Raised concerns about representation for rural residents during administration.

“We are only debating this bill, unprecedented as it is—a bill to dismiss a council by specific legislation—because the government has completely failed to do the job it set out to do under the Local Government Act.”— 2018-08-21View Hansard

As a new local member, spoke with a heavy heart about supporting the bill, acknowledging good working relationships with individual councillors while recognising the evidence from CCC and McGrathNicol reports showed systemic governance failures.

“I have struggled to reconcile these individual working relationships with what has clearly now been shown to be an unhealthy culture within Ipswich council—a lack of oversight and accountability and a clear lack of transparency.”— 2018-08-21View Hansard

Supported the bill and the opposition amendments, criticising the Labor government for protecting its mates and failing to act on warnings from the member for Bundamba over many years.

“I can almost see the drag marks on the carpet where Labor members of parliament were dragged kicking and screaming to act on the stench of corruption hanging over the Labor aligned Ipswich City Council.”— 2018-08-21View Hansard

Supported the bill as necessary because the underpinning principle of the Local Government Act had been broken. Argued the LNP's former local government minister had enabled the governance failures through legislative changes.

“Today is a really sad day. I think it is fair to say that we have seen some of the darkest days in local government in recent times.”— 2018-08-21View Hansard

Supported the dissolution but criticised the Labor government for creating the mess, noting this was the fourth attempt to resolve the Ipswich situation and the government had failed to act despite knowing about corruption for years.

“What a mess! What a mess the Labor Party has got into.”— 2018-08-21View Hansard

As a local member, gave an emotional speech supporting the bill despite personal difficulties, acknowledging it would affect councillors he considered friends but arguing the CCC findings showed the council failures could not be fixed by the current councillors.

“If ultimately my support for this bill costs me my seat of Ipswich West then so be it. My political wellbeing is less important than the wellbeing of the city of Ipswich.”— 2018-08-21View Hansard

Supported the bill while paying tribute to the hardworking councillors across his 10 local government areas in regional Queensland who serve as community volunteers, contrasting their service ethic with the self-interest seen at Ipswich.

“In sad contrast, we are having to deal with this legislation today because there is a former mayor and a suspended mayor from the Ipswich City Council and former council staff and council contractors who are facing 86 charges brought by the Crime and Corruption Commission.”— 2018-08-21View Hansard

Supported the bill but raised alarm about fundamental legal principles being overtaken by legislation, calling for the names of advisory committee members to be published to ensure independence.

“Alarm bells go off for me when I see fundamental legal principles overtaken by legislation and let down by other government processes.”— 2018-08-21View Hansard

Supported the bill as a former councillor and deputy mayor who understood the importance of local government, but criticised the government's incompetent handling of the crisis and called for transparency around administrator appointments.

“In any democracy that is a long time to be without elected representation.”— 2018-08-21View Hansard

Supported the bill while expressing disappointment that Labor could not manage the dismissal under existing processes. Raised concerns about limited oversight of the interim administrator and called for decentralising power and giving residents more control.

“Sacking the Ipswich City Council is truly a grave step, but I acknowledge the government has said that is their proposal and I support them in that. The people of Ipswich do deserve a fresh start.”— 2018-08-21View Hansard