Issues continue in one regional council, with the leak of sensitive documents and a reprimand from the Local Government Minister.

Drama continues for the Whitsunday Regional Council after three councillors walked out of a recent meeting saying they were sick of being maligned, and details from a recent efficiency review were leaked soon after.

The ongoing situation between the Mayor, Council and some of its councillors has been mediated by Queensland Local Government Minister David Crisafulli, who says the “circus” must end for the good of Whitsunday residents.

“I've issued the strongest possible warning that we as a state expect local councils to be in charge of their destiny,” he said.

“As a Government we've put a lot of power back in the hands of local councils and with those rights come responsibilities and we want them to govern for the entire region.

“I'm not expecting to see them all be best mates and sit around drinking cups of tea together but that's not what this is about.

“This is about making the council actually function as a body and good councils do have robust debate and good councils do have split decisions, there's nothing wrong with that but we've got to see an end to the circus,” Crisafulli said.

Reports say the confidential council efficiency document was distributed in an anonymous email, eventually finding its way to John Barnes from the Bowen-based Whitsunday Regional Residents Association.

Mr Barnes told the ABC he got his copy “off the back of a truck”.

Whitsunday Mayor Jennifer Whitney says confidentiality issues have been addressed.

“It's been identified that there's several confidentiality issues and that's something that was raised by the Minister,” she told the ABC.

“It's something this council needs to work on very well, being a very confidential council.

“There are things that can go out to the public... and there are things that have to remain in-house until they get to a certain level.

“Obviously in our discussions with advisers there are some documents that will never get onto the table and there's timing of documents as to when they get on the table,” she said.

It is understood that there has been significant public pressure from residents to see the report detailing the efficiency and activities of their councillors.