{"id":339543,"date":"2023-10-30T12:28:13","date_gmt":"2023-10-30T02:28:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=339543"},"modified":"2023-10-30T23:30:26","modified_gmt":"2023-10-30T13:30:26","slug":"mayor-extends-sick-leave","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2023\/10\/30\/mayor-extends-sick-leave\/","title":{"rendered":"Mayor Extends Sick Leave"},"content":{"rendered":"
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South Burnett Mayor Brett Otto has been on extended medical leave since July 31<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

October 30, 2023<\/strong><\/p>\n

Media reports that Brett Otto has informed colleagues he would not be restanding for the position of South Burnett Mayor has puzzled some of his fellow councillors.<\/p>\n

Councillors contacted by southburnett.com.au<\/strong> on Monday confirmed they had not received any such information from the Mayor.<\/p>\n

It was reported on Monday morning that Mayor Otto had released a statement to colleagues “explaining his decision not to head to the polls at the 2024 local government elections”.<\/p>\n

Mayor Otto has been on extended sick leave since July 31.<\/p>\n

A three-month medical certificate was due to expire on October 31, however the Mayor submitted a new certificate to Council late on Friday.<\/p>\n

This will extend his paid leave of absence until late January.<\/p>\n

The last Council meeting Mayor Otto attended was the June 21 Special Meeting where Council handed down its 2023-24 Budget.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Mayor was being treated in a Brisbane hospital in July but the media was asked at the time to keep this confidential \u201cuntil proper medical assessments\u201d were done.<\/p>\n

southburnett.com.au<\/strong> understands Mayor Otto returned home earlier this month to continue his recuperation after a medical episode.<\/p>\n

As Mayor Otto has not resigned, Deputy Mayor Gavin Jones will continue in the role of Acting Mayor in the interim.<\/p>\n

Attempts on Monday to reach Mayor Otto to confirm the media reports were unsuccessful.<\/p>\n

The next Council election will be held on March 16, 2024.<\/p>\n

The caretaker period ahead of the election – when councils can no longer make significant policy decisions that would bind future elected councils – will begin on the day the Electoral Commission of Queensland publishes a public notice about holding the election.<\/p>\n