3 months ago
23
A governance adviser has been appointed for a troubled south-east Queensland council that has led the state in the number of councillor complaints.
Of the 1008 councillor conduct complaints received by the Office of the Independent Assessor (OIA) in the 2024-25 financial year, 114 were about Redlands councillors.
Since being voted in as mayor in 2024, Jos Mitchell has received at least 47, though she claims the anonymous complaints system has been politically weaponised against her.
Redlands mayor Jos Mitchell.Credit: Julius Dennis
Six of those complaints have led to three investigations, at a $45,000 bill to the council.
None of those investigations suggested the council uphold the misconduct complaints. In May, however, the council voted to find Mitchell had breached its code of conduct.
Bronwyn Blagoev, the director-general of the Department of Local Government and former head of OIA, called the mayor on Monday to tell her the adviser had been appointed, before a wider meeting.
The advisor will work with the council until the end of May.Credit: Redland City Council
Mitchell said she had been calling for an adviser to be appointed, and welcomed the department’s decision.
“Over the last year, I have raised a number of concerns regarding aspects of Redland City Council and councillor conduct,” she said.
“I have also previously spoken of my personal belief that, at the very least, a governance adviser is needed.”
Loading
A Redland City Council spokesperson said an adviser was not an administrator or a mediator, and would give advice to the councillors and the mayor before reporting to Blagoev on to how to best support the council.
“This advice may include topics such as effective leadership, effective communication processes, operating as a cohesive unit, social media usage, and the ongoing wellbeing of elected representatives,” they said.
It has not been decided who the adviser will be, but they will work with the mayor and councillors until the end of May 2026, the spokesperson said.
They said the adviser would work part-time at the cost of the council.
Loading
A spokesperson for the department said the adviser will help address “challenges currently affecting the Council’s ability to serve its community”.
“This decision was made following a request from the council and in consultation with Councillors and the Mayor,” they said.
A review of the council’s organisational structure called for by the mayor is currently under way, as is a second operational restructure.
Meanwhile, Mitchell is in a court battle with the council’s top legal officer, Andrew Ross, who she has sued for defamation over an email sent to staff that allegedly outlined complaints he had about her.
Deputy Mayor Julie Talty, who is acting mayor while Mitchell is away for the rest of the week at a family funeral, was contacted for comment but did not reply.
The Department of Local Government was also contacted for comment.
Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
Most Viewed in National
Loading
