State sacks city
The Queensland parliament has dismissed the Ipswich City Council.
Queensland Labor MP Jo-Ann Miller labelled Ipswich City Council an “outlaw local government gang” as new laws passed to dismiss the embattled local government body this week.
The laws were created in the wake of damning allegations of corrupt behaviour by several Ipswich councillors and executives over the course of decades.
Queensland’s corruption watchdog has charged 15 council figures including two former Mayors with a total of 86 criminal offences, including fraud, corruption and extortion.
Local Government Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said the state government had no choice but to ditch the council.
“The CCC’s investigation into Ipswich City Council found widespread failures of governance, a lack of transparency and accountability and a serious risk of corruption,” he said.
“To date there are 15 people facing 86 charges in Ipswich as a result of those investigations, which is undermining confidence in the city and its economy.”
General Manager of Economic Development Queensland Greg Chemello has taken on the role of interim administrator until the next local government elections in 2020.
“He’s vastly experienced in governance, change management and commercial negotiations — all vital attributes needed to lead Ipswich in this challenging period,” Mr Hinchliffe said.
“In addition to this, he has extensive experience in planning and government property transactions which will assist in managing a range of council projects now underway in Ipswich.”
Mr Chemello will be joined by an interim management committee featuring:
Stan Gallo (Forensic Investigation) - a current KPMG partner, he is experienced in the forensic investigation of organisations and will lead internal investigations of the Ipswich City Council. He was formerly employed by the Crime and Corruption Commission
Simone Webbe (Governance, Ethics) – a barrister and former high-ranking public servant with extensive public sector experience in constitutional and public law, governance, accountability, anti-corruption and integrity reforms. She recently undertook a Strategic Review of the Office of the Queensland Ombudsman
Jan Taylor (Community Engagement) – has experience in complex community consultation on private and public sector projects across Australia and internationally, through consultancy work with the United Nations. She has served two terms on the Queensland Competition Authority and chaired or been a non-executive director on boards for the RACQ, Building Services Authority and Ports Queensland
Steve Greenwood (Business Engagement) – is a local government policy expert who has significant experience in urban planning and the property sector. He is the founding CEO of the Queensland Futures Institute, a former CEO of Canegrowers Australia and the former Queensland Executive Director of the Property Council of Australia
Robert Jones (Future Financial Practices) – Former Chair of Queensland’s KPMG practice. He has strong experience in corporate governance and risk management and was Partner in Charge of KPMG’s Audit Practice for 10 years