{"id":74228,"date":"2014-07-14T11:02:26","date_gmt":"2014-07-14T01:02:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=74228"},"modified":"2020-11-30T10:20:23","modified_gmt":"2020-11-30T00:20:23","slug":"lnp-delegates-back-review-of-council-complaints-process","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2014\/07\/14\/lnp-delegates-back-review-of-council-complaints-process\/","title":{"rendered":"LNP Delegates Back Review
Of Council Complaints Process"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Damien<\/a>
Cr Damien Tessmann after delivering his public apology to Council in February this year<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Councillors ‘Live In Fear’ Of Complaints<\/strong><\/p>\n

Cr Damien Tessmann told the LNP delegates the current situation was “akin to being investigated by the police and subsequently convicted without an opportunity to have your day in court”.<\/b><\/p>\n

He said the right to speak in your own defence – and appeal rights – were consistent with the Westminster system.<\/p>\n

“Currently once you are convicted you have no ability to seek an appeal because s244 of the Act ensures that these panels are above any legal challenge, including the State\u2019s Supreme Court,” he said.<\/p>\n

“I am unaware of any other body that has such status. As we know, the Supreme Court can overturn legislation passed through a House of Parliament but apparently not a decision of a panel against a Local Government Councillor.<\/p>\n

“It is not over the top to say that Councillors across the great state of Queensland live in fear of the current arrangements.<\/p>\n

“There are those in our State that are not as honourable as we in this room and they seek to use the complaints process to attack and vilify councillors because they did not get their own way on a Council decision.<\/p>\n

“These complaint investigations can cost upwards of $10,000 which is paid for by the ratepayer.<\/b><\/p>\n

“Even if a Councillor is found innocent of a vexatious claim the cost of investigation is still covered by the ratepayer.<\/p>\n

“Should a person be found to be abusing the system and costing ratepayers funds then I believe a financial penalty should be imposed on that person.”<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

July 14, 2014<\/strong><\/p>\n

Delegates at the LNP’s Annual Convention have unanimously backed a call by two South Burnett councillors to improve the way complaints against councillors are handled.<\/p>\n

Cr Damien Tessmann moved, and Cr Kathy Duff seconded, that:<\/strong><\/p>\n

This conference of the LNP calls on the State Government to strengthen the Queensland Local Government Act by applying principles of \u2018natural justice\u2019 for democratically elected representatives of Australia\u2019s third level of government by allowing,
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