March 1, 2016
A complaint lodged by Kingaroy businessman Michael Brown against fellow mayoral candidate Cr Damien Tessmann has been dismissed.
Mr Brown had complained that Cr Tessmann defamed him during a special Council meeting called on January 21 to determine the fate of the Lady Bjelke-Petersen Community Hospital.
In May 2015, Mr Brown’s company, Rural Medical Centres Limited, submitted a proposal to run a day surgery and health hub in the hospital building, which is owned by Council.
Mr Brown alleged Cr Tessmann had used his platform as a Councillor to criticise him and his proposal.
He also questioned why Rural Medical Centres Limited’s proposal was the only one that was “publicly attacked in Council by Cr Tessmann despite the many entities and operators the Mayor allegedly spoke to in order find someone to run the hospital”.
“I can only think that it is because I am standing as a Mayoral Candidate that he misused his position as a Councillor and as a Mayoral candidate himself to attack and defame me,” he said.
The complaint was reviewed by Council CEO Gary Wall.
On Tuesday, Cr Tessmann received a letter from Mayor Wayne Kratzmann which cleared him of inappropriate conduct.
“I have reviewed the material provided to me by the Chief Executive Officer,” Mayor Kratzmann wrote.
“I find accordingly that the accusation against you, lodged by Mr Michael Brown, for inappropriate conduct is not sustainable and therefore no disciplinary action will be taken against you.”
Cr Tessmann told southburnett.com.au he was pleased that the matter had been finalised.
“I think it was politically motivated,” he said.
“My comments were related to (Mr Brown’s) comments about Mayor Kratzmann and Council. I was just defending Council.”
- Related article: Mayoral Candidate To File Formal Complaint
