Ipswich City Council

[James]

I agree with David Pahlke - those boundaries are pretty shocking. There really should be a regional-focused seat which takes in everywhere west of Amberley.

Politics at it again though, I suspect.

[Stillwater]

Redbank Plains gets split asunder.

[ozbob]

I don't really think there was too much wrong with the previous divisions.  At least we had a local councillor we could go to.

The Council administration has closed the local offices, and now this.   Ipswich punters are being shafted, because of the behaviour of individuals who let the side down.  Why shaft the ratepayers?

It is almost like they have to make changes for change sake.  The problems were not due to the divisions as they were, but internal council problems.  Re-writing divisions etc. is not doing anything really.  Just a big cluster-fuk all round really.

Letter to the Ed Queensland Times 18th May 2019 page 21

Closure means greater divide



====

Letter to the Ed Queensland Times 20th May 2019 page 13

Hub loss creates divide

[ozbob]

Queensland Times --> Paul Pisasale extortion trial: Jury considers verdict

A JUDGE has addressed the jury as the Paul Pisasale extortion trial comes to an end, telling them to treat the former mayor's evidence the same as they would that of any other witness.

The jury has today retired to consider its verdict following a seven-day trial.

The former Ipswich mayor, 67, has pleaded not guilty to extortion, as have his co-accused, Ipswich lawyer Cameron McKenzie and escort Yutian Li, who was 37 when charged.

Judge Brad Farr summed up the case this morning as the Brisbane District Court trial drew to a close.

He reminded jurors they must be convinced beyond reasonable doubt each element of the offence had been proven and Pisasale's evidence treated "the same as you would any other witness".

Judge Farr directed the jury to disregard a Crown prosecutor's submission yesterday - in which Pisasale's evidence was likened to that of a politician - saying it had no relevance.

He also told the jury not to draw any adverse inference against either Li or Pisasale from her having been working as an escort when they met.

"You must not draw any adverse inference against the defendant Li because she worked as an escort, nor must you draw on the evidence an inference or against Pisasale because he utilised the services of an escort," the judge said.

"This is a court of law, not a court of morals."

The court has previously heard Pisasale met Li while she was in Brisbane working as either an escort or a masseuse.

A two-hour massage was arranged for him, which included sexual services.

Li allegedly told Pisasale about her Sydney taxi driver ex-boyfriend, telling him he had promised to marry her before breaking it off and was later found to be already married, the court heard.

Prosecutors allege Li wanted to stay in Australia and Pisasale demanded money from her ex-boyfriend as a means to help her stay, but that there was no reasonable cause to the demand.

It is alleged he made a series of phone calls to the ex-boyfriend posing as a private investigator in which he demanded up to $10,000 for Li and made various threats.

He later instructed McKenzie to send a letter of demand to the ex-boyfriend for $8400, which included $6100 for a private investigator.

Prosecutors allege no debt existed and there was no evidence of private investigation.

Pisasale's defence counsel Lincoln Crowley, however, told the court that Pisasale honestly believed Li was owed money after she told him of coming to Australia to investigate the truth about her ex-boyfriend.

"He's a sucker for a damsel in distress," Mr Crowley told the court.

"He's either been taken with or taken by Ms Li.

"In his mind, he believes her."

[ozbob]

Queensland Times --> Verdict revealed: The case against Pisasale

FORMER Ipswich Mayor Paul Pisasale has been convicted on two counts of extortion today at the close of his Brisbane District Court trial.

The jury delivered the verdict this afternoon, finding the 67-year-old guilty of having committed extortion when he demanded money from the ex-boyfriend of a Chinese escort he was seeing.

His co-accused, China-born escort/masseuse Yutian Li, now 39, has also been convicted of two counts of extortion, while Ipswich lawyer Cameron McKenzie, 37, has been convicted on one extortion count.

Pisasale met Li in January 2017 when a massage was arranged for him from the woman, apparently by his barrister friend Sam Di Carlo.

That massage included sexual services and the relationship continued with messages over mobile phone application WeChat, phone calls, dinner meetings and trips to the Gold Coast and Melbourne.

Unknown to Pisasale, his phone calls at the time were being listened into by the Crime and Corruption Commission, which was investigating Ipswich City Council.

Soon after meeting, Li told Pisasale she had been jilted by her Sydney taxi driver ex-boyfriend, who she said had promised to marry her, only to later break up by telling her he was dying.

The then-mayor agreed to step in by first posing as a telemarketer named George Robinson conducting a health survey - finding out the ex-boyfriend was already married with a child.

Pisasale made the call while driving to the Gold Coast with Li, putting the call on speaker phone.

Li later messages Pisasale: "You need to punishing my ex-boyfriend."

Pisasale replies to say "yes" and tells her to bring his phone number when they next meet.

He then posed as a private investigator, initially demanding almost $10,000 for Li to pay for what he described as what it had cost her "to find out the truth" about his marital status.

During the calls, Pisasale made a series of threats to the man, Xin Li, including that he would "issue him with a summons to go to court" and that he would be sued for $200,000.

Pisasale also says he will need a lawyer, and that the court action would cost him up to $30,000.

He also threatens that he will be talking to the Australian Government and that he "knows the Immigration Minister."

During the calls, the ex-boyfriend asks Pisasale numerous times who he is, but he refuses to say.

"I'm a private investigator. She just wants to find out the truth otherwise we will be proceeding with court action," he tells the man.

"What message, that we fight or agree to resolve it?" he continues. "Otherwise it becomes very public in Australia. A very public court case. She is going to proceed to the court. She has some lawyer friends that (will) help her."

He then says it had cost Li $6000-$7000 in investigations, but he felt sorry for her and had given her a discount. "Are you prepared to give her money to go away?" he asks.

Pisasale later rings Ipswich lawyer Cameron McKenzie and instructs him to write a letter of demand to the man, telling him: "I rang the guy yesterday pretending I was a private investigator."

He then suggests how the letter should be worded. The pair then spent time in Melbourne.

A letter of demand was sent to the ex-boyfriend soon after, demanding $8400 for Li, including $6100 for the cost of her having hired a private investigator.

But no private investigator existed, apart from Pisasale "pretending" to be one.

The letter said the man had seven days to accept the offer of an application would be filed in the Federal Court.

But Pisasale by then had already told McKenzie the matter was never going to court.

When the ex-boyfriend did not respond to the letter of demand, Pisasale told McKenzie they must "scare the sh%t out of him".

He said he had found out that Li created a false name to get Australian citizenship.

He suggest wording stating that, through investigations, they had found out there was another identity, and they needed to resolve the issue or use other methods to find out the truth.

A second letter was drafted but not sent after Li messaged Pisasale to say she did not want to threaten the ex-boyfriend anymore.

Pisasale during the trial argued he believed Li was owed money, but prosecutors told the court he tried to use the ex-boyfriend to obtain money for Li, enabling her to stay in Australia.

The court heard a series of damning phone calls intercepted by the CCC during the seven-day trial, including one in which Pisasale discusses Li, telling a friend of Li: "Oh the first night I f---ed her was good, but she's so naive."

He continued that "when you come back there is good photos of her."



EARLIER: PAUL Pisasale has been found guilty of two counts of extortion, a jury has found.

The jury reached the verdict about 2.30pm today after a day of deliberation.

Pisasale, the former high-flying mayor of Ipswich, demanded money from the ex-boyfriend of escort Yutian Li.

He made a series of phone calls to the ex-boyfriend posing as a private investigator in which he demanded up to $10,000 for Li and made various threats.

Pisasale later instructed solicitor, Cameron McKenzie to send a letter of demand to the ex-boyfriend for $8400, which included $6100 for a private investigator.

McKenzie and Li, have also been found guilty of extortion.

[ozbob]

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1154045899879792640

[ozbob]

Queensland Times --> Pisasale jailed for extortion

PAUL Pisasale will spend 12 months in jail for extorting the Sydney taxi driver ex-boyfriend of a Chinese escort he was seeing.

The former Ipswich mayor was given a two-year prison sentence this afternoon, to be suspended after 12 months.

It follows his conviction yesterday on two counts of extortion.

"Your fall from grace has been from a great height and very public," Judge Brad Farr said in his sentencing remarks.

China-born escort Yutian Li, 39, was sentenced to 18 months' prison, suspended after seven months.

A third man, Ipswich lawyer Cameron McKenzie, 37, was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment, suspended after nine months.

[ozbob]

Queensland Times --> Pisasale to stand trial for sexual assault

FORMER Ipswich Mayor Paul Pisasale has been committed to stand trial on almost 20 charges including sexual assault, fraud and corruption.

For the first time, The Courier-Mail can now reveal the disgraced politician has been accused of two offences of sexual assault.

Under Queensland law, those accused of sexual crimes can not be identified until they have been committed to stand trial.

Brisbane Magistrates Court today heard Pisasale is accused of "unlawfully and indecently" assaulting a woman at Ipswich twice on December 9, 2016 while he was still mayor.

His defence lawyer Andrew Anderson conceded there was enough evidence to send the sexual assault charges to trial. Pisasale did not enter a plea.

Pisasale was also committed to stand trial on 14 other offences including 10 of fraud, one count of official corruption and perjury.

Pisasale's former personal assistant Heather Gunn was today briefly called for cross examination in relation to a charge of fraud the former mayor is facing over allegations he dishonestly gained benefit for himself, namely interstate travel.

She was questioned about the council's then processes for approving the mayor's travel and told the court all of Pisasale's travel had to be approved by the council CEO.

Mr Anderson questioned Ms Gunn about one trip in which Mr Pisasale was scheduled to go to Melbourne to attend a Jamie Oliver event which he became unable to get to in time due to scheduling conflicts.

The court heard that despite the cancellation with the celebrity chef, Pisasale still went on the trip and met with another business, Transpacific.

"You may recall matters changed because a television show was going to be featuring Ipswich and that posed some difficulties for the attendance at Melbourne," Mr Anderson asked.

"That difficulty was something you had discussed with Mr Pisasale and there was an attempt to change matters around Jamie Oliver's schedule."

Ms Gunn said Mr Oliver was unavailable to meet after the scheduled time but Pisasale still went on the trip to Melbourne and met with members of a company named Transpacific.

"Whilst you had been told of the change...that was not something you passed on to the chief executive officer," Mr Anderson asked Ms Gunn.

"No," she responded.

"I'm not suggesting at all you did that deliberately," he said.

"There was no direction from Mr Pisasale to hide that from the chief executive officer?"

Ms Gunn said there was no such direction from the mayor.

"In the context of a busy office you've failed to pass that on," he asked.

"Yes," she relied.

Pisasale was committed to stand trial on 16 offences and did not enter any pleas. His trial date in the District Court will be set at a later date.

Two more minor matters including the drug possession were adjourned to February in the Magistrates court.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1175438858537721856

[ozbob]

Queensland Times --> Final divisional boundaries announced by ECQ


A map of the final Ipswich City Council councillor divisional boundaries. Contributed

THE state government has confirmed the council divisional boundaries that will see Ipswich City Council ratepayers represented by a mayor and eight councillors after the March 2020 local government elections.

Interim Administrator Greg Chemello, who will leave his current role after the elections, welcomed the final determination of the Local Government Change Commission.

"The commission has determined Ipswich should be divided into four multi-member divisions with two councillors representing each division," he said.

"The boundaries have been drawn and everyone knows where they stand now. In my view, it is time for those people in the Ipswich community who are seriously considering putting their name into the ring to finalise whether they do want to represent this proud city."

The commission received a number of submissions into the proposed changes and seriously considered all suggestions, but went with the options proposed from its initial review and report in July.

The almost 50,000 voters in Ipswich were contacted by the commission via email, with 79 comments received.

"The Change Commission determined that while both single-member and multi-member divisions provide the community-specific representation that is important to Ipswich residents, multi-member divisions are more likely to meet all the criteria," Mr Chemello said.

"The Change Commission also noted that multi-member divisions provide greater scope to have more councillors representing rural areas within the council area, offering the opportunity for more inclusive representation and engagement with the community.

It also recommended council conduct a mid-term review and community consultation in 2022 to gauge residents' experiences and satisfaction with the multi-member arrangement and divisional boundaries ahead of the 2024 local government elections.

The final determination report is available at ecq.qld.gov.au

[ozbob]

Queensland Times --> Candidate wants improved public transport, care for elderly

HAVING scored "huge wins" for health workers and faced the challenges of running a small business, Andrea Dunn believes she has the skills and experience to represent Ipswich as the city gets a "chance to start afresh" next year.

The Springfield Lakes resident will stand as an independent candidate in the Ipswich City Council election in March, contending a division two seat.

Ms Dunn's focus if elected will include pushing for more access to more independent living for mature residents, installing recycling drop-off centres next to shopping centres, implementing community gardens to foster a feeling of community, pushing for improved road safety conditions.

She wants to advocate for improved local bus timetables to reduce the number of commuters missing rail connections and making public transport a more viable option for residents.

"I want to be an advocate for the accident and emergency facility out of the Mater Hospital at Springfield. I believe that's important," she said.

The 53-year-old has lived in Ipswich for 17 years and works as a dental assistant for Queensland Health.

She believes "the time is right" to run for council for the first time and wants to form a part of Ipswich's leadership as emerges from 2020 and beyond.

"In my current position advocating for Queensland Health workers, I've had huge wins and I like to see good outcomes," she said.

"I've been involved in Queensland Health reviews and enterprise bargaining agreements and the like and I have a knowledge of policy and procedure. I am very familiar with policies and procedures and the need to be accountable whilst providing and advocating for others

"The big thing I think is going to be transparency and accountability for all candidates. We can't change what's happened in the past but can definitely move forward."

Ms Dunn believed her experience in small business had taught her the importance of "efficient and transparent" leadership in the private sector.

"I have the advantage of having a small business plus also working for a large organisation," she said.

"I've been able to see where management is coming from and where the workers are coming from to try and get good outcomes from both sides. You're not going to please everybody but you can understand where people are coming from from both sides."

" ... She wants to advocate for improved local bus timetables to reduce the number of commuters missing rail connections and making public transport a more viable option for residents. ... " 

[ozbob]

Ipswich First --> Ipswich Interim Administrator Greg Chemello stepping down to take up CEO role at Moreton Bay Regional Council

Ipswich City Council Interim Administrator Greg Chemello is stepping down from his position at council next month after being appointed Moreton Bay Regional Council's new CEO.

Local Government Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said Mr Chemello had been in the position since August 2018 after councillors were dismissed and would be succeeded by Steve Greenwood, a member of the Interim Management Committee (IMC), which has been working closely with Mr Chemello in his role with council.

"I'd like to thank Greg for taking the helm during a difficult time for Ipswich City Council and doing a terrific job," Mr Hinchliffe said.

"Steve will now take the council up to the March 2020 elections, when a new mayor and team of councillors will be elected.

"I can't thank Greg enough for the excellent way in which he has carried out his duties with the council."

Mr Chemello said he had "mixed feelings" about the move.

"I will commence a new role in another local government from mid January 2020; an organisation that needs to address a number of significant issues in relation to governance, councillor-management relations, community engagement, human resource management and dealing with rapid urban growth. Sound familiar?," he said in a personal email to council staff.

"It was, like Ipswich, an opportunity that I could not miss; albeit popping up a couple of months earlier than I would have ideally liked. But I have learned over the years that you often can't dictate timing of major life events.

"You have collectively achieved much in the last 15 plus months; significant policy and strategy transformations; local laws reformed; major project planning underway; reporting, budgeting and planning refocused; councillor integrity package now in place; a proper ICT strategy; new planning scheme under way, to name a few."

Mr Greenwood is due to start on 13 January 2020 and remain in the position until the local government elections in March. He brings to the position a wealth of experience in urban planning and the property sector, and is the founding CEO of the Queensland Futures Institute, former CEO of Canegrowers Australia and former Queensland Executive Director of the Property Council of Australia.

"Steve will take over leadership of this reform agenda that, from elected representation perspective, is almost done. I know that he intends to empower and enable this council to continue the reform journey we have started," Mr Chemello said.

"I should remind you that the IMC finishes up this month. When Steve takes over as acting Interim Administrator in January it will be only a month away from formal caretaker period.

"There is still work to do; we all know that. Much of this is internal council functional/operational in nature and will be guided by the wise mind and experienced hands of David Farmer, who I thank enormously for coming on board to be your council's CEO.

"It has been an absolute honour and privilege to be your council Interim Administrator; a role I never took for granted and, although there have been some really tough days, never regretted taking on."

Speaking on ABC Radio today, Mr Chemello said it was "another opportunity to do something good for a community and make a difference to an organisation and help people deal with a rapidly growing urban area".

"We've done the bulk of what we need to do (at Ipswich) in terms of future councillors and we've released our "How to Be A Councillor" (guide) with all the rules, policies and guidelines – all that's in place," he said.

"The new local laws are in place and there's about more than a dozen folks who have already put their hand up to run for council and more coming out. All that is really positive and the community should be positive also."

Moreton Bay Regional Council Mayor Allan Sutherland said Mr Chemello was the standout applicant from a pool of immense talent for the CEO role.

"Greg is without question one of the most competent and forward-thinking people in local government, with an unrivalled attention to detail," he said.

"In less than 18 months he has managed to transform Ipswich from a council mired by controversy and corruption into a respected operation where people look forward to going to work, with a focus on improving services for the people of Ipswich.

"He's exactly the person we need to not only deliver the changes recommended to us in Grassroots Connections Australia's very blunt assessment of our operational culture, but also articulate how we evolve beyond that.

"Greg's 35 years' experience in planning and development, project delivery and government sectors are useful but most invaluable to MBRC is the fact that he's spent the last 20 years honing his leadership focus on organisations experiencing substantial transformation.

"He told us that his motivation for wanting to work at MBRC was the opportunity to craft a new and refocused vision for our organisation, that empowers our team to successfully adapt to delivering on the modern expectations of our community."

Cr Sutherland said Mr Chemello had "pulled off the impossible" in Ipswich and looked forward to him "bringing that kind of magic" to Moreton Bay.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/abcnews/status/1216134778409193472

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1217460094905896960

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Bundamba MP Jo-Ann Miller considers tilt for Mayor of Ipswich

Maverick Labor MP Jo-Ann Miller is actively considering a tilt for Mayor of Ipswich in a move that could force the Palaszczuk Government into an election year by-election.

THE Palaszczuk Government could be thrown into turmoil and forced to fight a bruising by-election just months before this year's election, amid speculation maverick Labor MP Jo-Ann Miller is considering a tilt for Ipswich mayor.

The move would mean Labor's longest serving member would have to quit as an MP to run one of Queensland's biggest councils, potentially reducing the Government's already slim majority and sparking a tight race for her Bundamba seat between Labor and One Nation.

Mrs Miller's possible defection to local government would be another major distraction for the second-term Labor administration, which is trailing the LNP in The Courier-Mail's latest YouGov opinion poll.

The Courier-Mail understands Mrs Miller is actively considering a run and is talking with family and close friends on whether to make the move just two months from the March 28 council election.

It is understood she would not make a decision for some time, but she would have to nominate before March 3.

Mrs Miller, 61, declined to comment.

The shake-up would trigger a by-election in her Bundamba electorate about seven months before the October 31 general election if she decides to run, putting the seat at risk to a campaign from One Nation.

The fight for the traditionally ultra-safe Labor seat would also likely coincide with the state's earlier-than-usual Budget on April 28.

It comes after LNP's Currumbin MP Jann Stuckey last night announced she was resigning from state parliament, in a move that will also likely lead to a by-election.

The Local Government Electoral Act says a Member of the Legislative Assembly may nominate as a candidate for election as a councillor, but "must resign on becoming a candidate".

The Local Government Electoral Act says a Member of the Legislative Assembly may nominate as a candidate for election as a councillor, but "must resign on becoming a candidate".

[ozbob]

Ipswich City Local Government Area

https://www.ecq.qld.gov.au/electoral-boundaries/local-government-boundary-reviews/divisional-boundary-reviews/ipswich-city-local-government-area

[aldonius]

Labor should win a fight against One Nation in Bundamba with a fairly comfortable margin, but with the loss of Jo-Ann Miller's personal vote it won't necessarily be easy. "Bruising" is a decent description.

[ozbob]

^ I am unsure if Jo-Ann is serious about the Mayoral tilt.  But would be interesting if she does.

I am in the seat of Bundamba, Jo-Ann is a very good local member who has a lot of local support.  Not sure how that goes directly outside of Seat of Bundamba,  but she was relentless in highlighting the issues with the previous council.

[ozbob]

Queensland Times --> Paul Tully could make still political comeback at election

FORMER councillor Paul Tully will come to a decision this weekend as to whether he will make a political comeback at the upcoming election, 18 months after he was sacked.

Mr Tully, who was dismissed with his Ipswich City Council colleagues in August 2018, said he will sit down and discuss standing at the March 28 election with his family in the next couple of days.

He has until midday Tuesday to make up his mind and nominate.

"I haven't ruled it out," he said.

"Some days I think I really want to get back in there.

"But on the other hand I'm enjoying the time to myself. Some days I'm absolutely keyed up to want to stand and other days I think blow it.

"This weekend I'll be talking to my wife and two boys (about it)."

Mr Tully, who was first elected in 1979, said he had spent the time since his dismissal to relax after 39 years on the job.

He has spent the time with his family, putting together a book on Jack the Ripper and tending to his bees.

"I probably had, like a lot of people in politics, neglected their family time over the years," he said.

"I've had a genuine break I really hadn't had for almost four decades."

The former Division 2 representative would contest a seat for the Division 2 electorate, if he decides to run.

"I think the city has gone backwards under the administrator," he said.

"There's a lot of things that I think are wrong.

"Most of the new Division 2 comprises about 95 per cent of my old Division 2."

As a result of the Crime and Corruption Commission's Operation Windage, former Ipswich mayors Paul Pisasale and Andrew Antoniolli and former council CEO Carl Wulff were convicted of criminal charges.

The investigation, which began in October 2016, resulted in more than 80 charges being laid against individuals connected to the council.

Mr Tully said he was not aware of wrongdoing within the organisation.

"Anyone who claims that any of the other 10 councillors, including myself, must have been aware are operating under the worse case of the McCarthy era in America in the 1950s and that's guilt by association," Mr Tully said.

"The fact that none of us have been charged with anything by the CCC show they weren't able to find any sort of illegal or corrupt conduct.

"The trolls on the internet are very quick to say we were part and parcel. I haven't spoken to (Paul) Pisasale since June or July 2017 and I probably never will.

"He has caused so much hurt and so much pain for other councillors, their families and the entire city."

[ozbob]

Queensland Times --> Tully still undecided on council election run

FORMER councillor Paul Tully has waited until the eleventh hour to make a decision on whether he will make his political comeback in the 2020 local government elections.

Mr Tully told the QT on Friday that he would spend the weekend discussing the decision with his family, but he had still not made up his mind this morning

When asked earlier today he said a decision would be made within the next 12 hours.

Mr Tully was dismissed with the rest of Ipswich City Council in August 2018

He has until midday tomorrow to make a decision.

The former councillor was first elected in 1979 and was in the job for almost 40 years.

"I've had a genuine break I really hadn't had for almost four decades," Mr Tully told the QT last week.

In September Mr Tully ruled out his own run for mayor but said there was still a part of him that wanted to "fight the good fight" and make a return as a local councillors.

He also insisted there was no way he or his former councillor colleagues could have known about the scandals that had festered through council ahead of its dismissal in 2018.

He said he and his colleagues were punished for the deeds of others.

The former Division 2 representative would contest a seat for the Division 2 electorate, if he decides to run.

"I think the city has gone backwards under the administrator," he said.

"There's a lot of things that I think are wrong.

"Most of the new Division 2 comprises about 95 per cent of my old Division 2."

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/haydenjohnson94/status/1234648184300851200

[ozbob]

Queensland Times --> Paul Tully to contest election as part of team

SACKED councillor Paul Tully has announced he will contest this month's Ipswich City Council election as part of a team.

Mr Tully, who served as a councillor for 39 years, will run in a team in Division 2 alongside Goodna accountant Nicole Jonic.

Together they will run under the banner Your Voice of Experience.

"I've still got business to do," he said.

"I'm reasonably confident we'll both be elected as a team. If we're both elected, we'll work together for the good of Division 2. Without that, two councillors could be elected who are diametrically opposed on policies."

Mr Tully joins sacked colleagues Sheila Ireland and David Martin in standing for re-election, 18 months after the previous administration was dismissed by the State Government.

He rejected calls former elected representatives should not stand again.

"(There is) almost 60 years of experience between us," he said.

"That's important so you don't have people who lack completely the knowledge to get the council firing again."

The 68-year-old ruled out a run for mayor following a failed attempt in the 2017 by-election, after discussions with wife Liza.

He said he has known Ms Jonic, 36, for close to a decade.

"I've realised that the best chance of both of us winning is having the experience of myself and the fresh blood on the council," he said.

Ms Jonic, who is the principal of NKT Tax Accountants, has lived in Goodna since 2011.

This will be her first election.

"I'm a public practising accountant so I'm in touch with our community daily," she said.

"I think the balance between development and conservation is the biggest concern that I've got.

"I live, work and play in my division ... so I rarely leave. That's why I'm so passionate about it.

"(Mr Tully) has the history and I've got the fresh passion and the drive. It's a win win really."

Although Mr Tully is a member of the ALP, Ms Jonic said she is not a member of any political party.

They would push to introduce a policy of free tip vouchers for Ipswich residents.

"We're committed to introducing a system such as in Brisbane," Mr Tully said.

"It would apply to owners and renters."

The pair said they would be opposed to any more "super dumps" in the city, and push for a fire station for Greater Springfield, more security cameras in parks and other "hot spots" in Ipswich's eastern suburbs and restore the local mobile library and immunisation clinics.

An unfair dismissal case filed by Mr Tully and six other former councillors, including Mrs Ireland, was dismissed by the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission in January.

"They ruled that we were elected members and not employees, which meant our case couldn't proceed," he said.

"They heard no evidence as to whether or nor we were actually fairly or unfairly dismissed, so we've decided we're not going to appeal. That will be the end of the matter."

[ozbob]

Queensland Times 6th March 2020 page 4

Minister: 'I can't interfere with OIA'




Letter to the Editor Queensland Times 6th March 2020 page 13

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/TessaHardy9/status/1237171226054811648

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Labor infighting brews on Ipswich City Council election eve

Sacked Ipswich councillor Paul Tully's local Labor Party branch plans to censure the party's state MP Jennifer Howard for speaking out in State Parliament against Mr Tully's record as a councillor.

Ms Howard on March 17 used parliamentary privilege - a term which refers to legal protection given to people speaking in parliaments - to condemn the sacked long-serving Ipswich councillor.

Mr Tully served for 39 years in the Ipswich City Council, which was dumped by Local Government Minister Stirling Hinchliffe on August 22, 2018 after a damning, two-year Crime and Corruption Commission report.

Mr Tully was not charged by the CCC.

He is however being investigated by Queensland's independent local government watchdog, the Office of the Independent Assessor.

On its private Facebook page, the Greater Springfield branch of the Australian Labor Party has a notice of motion to condemn Ms Howard for her speech.

"Because of Jennifer Howard's use of parliamentary privilege to attack Springfield ALP branch member Paul Tully, we strongly condemn Jennifer Howard's action," the post reads.

The censure motion is moved by Neil Bennett - a former electrical fitter and power station worker who served as Labor's MP for Gladstone between 1992-95.

He is the husband of branch president Judy Bennett.

The couple moved to Springfield in the late 1990s, Ms Bennett said on Wednesday.

Ms Bennett was surprised to be telephoned about the censure issue and asked husband Neil Bennett if she should comment.

Ms Bennett said the issue was raised on a private Facebook page.

"I believe that when we have internal ALP problems, we keep them internal ALP problems," she said.

When Ipswich City Council was sacked, 15 people associated with Ipswich City Council had been charged with 86 criminal offences.

This included the two previous mayors Paul Pisasale and Andrew Antoniolli and the council's two previous chief executive officers.

The CCC investigation into Ipswich City Council found serious corruption risks (page 14) and overall:

a lack of oversight and accountability for expenditure and public resources
use of mechanisms which allowed avoidance of scrutiny of actions and requests for information under the RTI Act
inappropriate relationships between the Council and the private sector, in particular property developers and contractors, and
improper use of power and influence for personal benefit

Mr Tully - Ipswich City Council's former planning and development committee chairman and deputy mayor - announced this month he was standing as a councillor for Goodna and Springfield.

In her speech in State Parliament on March 17, Ms Howard said that decision shocked many people in Ipswich.

"Ipswich people have suffered enough. We need a fresh new start and it is my strong view that none of the former councillors should be seeking re-election," she said.

On March 10, Queensland's Office of Independent Assessor took the unusual step by publicly confirming it was investigating allegations against Mr Tully.

Mr Tully said he had provided a detailed response to the Office of the Independent Assessor and until then believed the investigation was over.

Ms Howard on Wednesday said she did not apologise for making her speech and said the Bennetts were "good people".

She is not a member of the ALP's Greater Springfield branch.

"Look, I don't like causing any person distress but at the end of the day I am a leader in my community and I have to stand up for what I think is best for my city," she said.

Mr Tully has been asked to further comment on the censure motion.

The Greater Springfield ALP branch meeting has been delayed until after May 31, 2020.

I expect Mr Tully will be elected (again) as a Councillor.  He has strong local support.

[ozbob]

https://www.qt.com.au/news/rolling-coverage-ipswich-city-council-election-res/3983868/

DIVISION TWO:

SACKED councillor Paul Tully is leading the charge in division two with more than 22% of the vote, after about 15% of the total votes counted so far.

His running mate Nicole Jonic has the second highest number of votes, currently sitting on about 16%.

They are well ahead of the rest of the pack with the closest contender Sarah Knopke on about 10%.

====

MAYORAL RACE:

Teresa Harding continues a strong lead with more than 45% of the voted counted.

Harding has nearly 41% of the vote while former councillor David Martin sits on 23.40%.

Greens candidate Pat Walsh has 15.49% of the vote.

Mark Williams has about 7% while Chris Smith and Ursula Monsiegneur sit on about 5%.

Korokan Korchardy, a last minute addition to the ballot, sits on just over 1%.

====

Harding is LNP.  Interesting ...

[ozbob]

Queensland Times --> Ipswich's new mayor claims victory

THE NEW Mayor of Ipswich is ready to get down the business of helping her city survive the coronavirus crisis.

A jubilant Teresa Harding said she believed trust and integrity were the two big issues for voters in this historic election.

Ms Harding won convincingly over David Martin, securing more than 40 per cent of the vote over Mr Martin's 23.84 per cent with about 62 per cent of the vote counted.

By lunchtime Sunday, Mr Martin had sent a message to Ms Harding on Facebook congratulating her on her victory.

"I think I won because I focused on all of Ipswich," she said.

"I was doorknocking and holding stalls everywhere, right across the city and country areas.

"I really went all-out."

THE NEW Mayor of Ipswich is ready to get down the business of helping her city survive the coronavirus crisis.

A jubilant Teresa Harding said she believed trust and integrity were the two big issues for voters in this historic election.

Ms Harding won convincingly over David Martin, securing more than 40 per cent of the vote over Mr Martin's 23.84 per cent with about 62 per cent of the vote counted.

By lunchtime Sunday, Mr Martin had sent a message to Ms Harding on Facebook congratulating her on her victory.

"I think I won because I focused on all of Ipswich," she said.

"I was doorknocking and holding stalls everywhere, right across the city and country areas.

"I really went all-out."

Ms Harding said the number one question she was asked was whether or not she was one of the sacked councillors, which she was not.

"That, and people also wanted to know how they could trust me," she said.

"I outlined my background in the military, my senior position in the government and explained to them I was in a position of trust. I put my register of interests online and published my police check.

"I think all of that was important for people to know.

"I was also very upfront about my political background."

Acknowledging she and the new council would face tremendous challenges ahead, Ms Harding said she would personally oversee the city's disaster management response, while also doing what she can to assist local business.

She also plans to open the books on the previous council's operation of various privately operated companies, including Ipswich City Properties and Ipswich Motorsport Park, which were wound up with a combined debt of almost $80 million.

"For us to heal as a city we really need to know what happened there," she said.

[ozbob]

https://prodresults.elections.qld.gov.au/lga2020/03402/councillor

Division 2

HUNT, Brad 1257   4.38%
TULLY, Paul Gregory 6044   21.07%
PURCELL, Steven 2852   9.94%
MANNING, Luise 2969   10.35%
JONIC, Nicole Kay 4384   15.28%
MODRA, Paul 1483   5.17%
ADAMSON, Sirle 1355   4.72%
BULL, Anthony 2335   8.14%
KNOPKE, Sarah 2836   9.89%
PINNELL, James1774   6.19%

43.5% of the vote counted.  Certain looks like Paul Tully will be elected, together with his running mate Nicole Jonic.

[ozbob]

Couriermaimail --> Secret Ipswich trip details to be released, says city's new mayor

Ipswich's new mayor Teresa Harding has promised a forensic audit of council as a way to clear the air following a corruption watchdog investigation that led to convictions against eight people, including its former CEO Carl Wulff and ex-Mayor Paul Pisasale.

IPSWICH'S incoming mayor Teresa Harding has pledged to lift the lid on "questionable" overseas travel by former politicians and council executives.

The senior Queensland public servant was voted in with more than 40 per cent of the 60 per cent of votes counted as of Wednesday.

She has promised to make public a forensic audit of council in a final act of clearing the air following a corruption investigation that has so far led to the criminal convictions against eight people, including corrupt former chief executive officer Carl Wulff and ex-Ipswich Mayor Paul Pisasale.

Ms Harding said she will use her first council meeting to move a motion for the release of trip itineraries, director fees and other documents of companies owned and run by Ipswich council.

"The ratepayers of Ipswich want to know how their money was spent," she said.

"In order for us to heal, we actually have to know what they did and then we can move on."

It comes after the refusal of multiple Right to Information requests by The Courier-Mail for details of overseas trips by politicians, including Pisasale, and former council executives with the now wound-up council-owned company Ipswich City Properties, of which they were directors.

ICP directors have included Pisasale, Wulff and veteran Ipswich councillor Paul Tully.

Mr Tully has not been charged with any offences.

The state's council watchdog, the Office of the Independent Assessor, last month released a statement revealing Mr Tully has "outstanding matters against him".

Mr Tully, who says he would fully co-operate with the OIA, is expected to be returned as an Ipswich councillor following last week's poll.

He told the newspaper he would assess Ms Harding's motion when it came to council, but has indicated a level of opposition to the plan; accusing Ms Harding of "living in the past."

Documents discussing the use of a private jet to fly around the US in 2010 and photos of Pisasale with others in Europe have been among the Ipswich City Properties' trip details blocked from release following RTI requests.

Council at one stage spent $83,000 on lawyers Clayton Utz to keep the US trip details buried.

It later admitted to hiring a private jet, saying it was the "most cost effective" option, but refused to reveal the price tag.

RTI requests by the newspaper for trip documents were most recently knocked back again in 2019.

Ms Harding, who headed up the State Government's open data scheme before running for mayor, said she hoped to make the documents public within months in her first act of office.

The Crime and Corruption Commission's damning Operation Windage report on its Ipswich corruption probe in 2018 found wholly council-owned and controlled companies were a corruption risk as they fell outside its jurisdiction and were out of reach of freedom of information laws.

Senior members of council "appeared to be exploiting their involvement in these companies for their own personal benefit and the benefit of close associates," the report found.

It enabled council rules to be circumvented and ratepayer funds used for "questionable purposes."

Funds were used to pay for business class flights, meals at expensive restaurants, accommodation and memberships to the exclusive Brisbane networking venue The Brisbane Club.

Mr Tully has previously defended his Brisbane Club membership, saying he only went there twice before cancelling his membership as it was "never of any benefit" to him.

[ozbob]

Queensland Times --> Meet your new council: ICC election results declared

THE Ipswich City Council election results have finally been declared for the region's four divisions by the Electoral Commission of Queensland.

With more than 70 per cent of the vote counted in each division, Jacob Madsen and former councillor Sheila Ireland have been elected to represent Division 1.

Paul Tully will also return in Division 2 alongside his running partner Nicole Jonic.

THE Ipswich City Council election results have finally been declared for the region's four divisions by the Electoral Commission of Queensland.

With more than 70 per cent of the vote counted in each division, Jacob Madsen and former councillor Sheila Ireland have been elected to represent Division 1.

Paul Tully will also return in Division 2 alongside his running partner Nicole Jonic.

Marnie Doyle and Andrew Fechner have been elected in Division 3, while Kate Kunzelmann and Russell Milligan will represent Division 4.

Teresa Harding has already claimed victory, but the ECQ is yet to declare the results for Ipswich Mayor.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1309002870952521729

[Gazza]

p%ss ale.

[ozbob]

Queensland Times --> ANTONIOLLI CLEARED: Former mayor's appeal upheld

Convictions for fraud against former Ipswich mayor Andrew Antoniolli have been set aside, following a successful appeal.

Ipswich District Court Judge Dennis Lynch QC handed down his decision on Friday morning, after upholding the appeal by Mr Antoniolli.

Judge Lynch set aside the convictions and acquitted Mr Antoniolli of all 13 fraud offences and set aside the sentences. ...

[ozbob]

ABC News --> Former Ipswich mayor Andrew Antoniolli wins appeal against fraud conviction

... Current Ipswich councillor Paul Tully, who was sacked when the council was dismissed by the Queensland Government in 2018 before being re-elected in March this year, supported the appeal.

"This decision shows Andrew Antoniolli acted honestly and ethically at all times — he committed no criminal offences," Cr Tully said.

"Andrew Antoniolli is a free man with a clean record who can hold his head high in the streets of Ipswich.

"This decision also shows the other councillors [and Ipswich City Council] should not have been sacked.

"Councillors should be allowed to act on the advice from the CEO of the council." ...

..

[ozbob]

Ipswich First --> Ipswich City Council announces strong and strategic Budget with focus on bright future

... The significant spends include:

$22 million for a three year kerb and channel program, with around $15 million to be spent in Ipswich's older and established suburbs
$4.6 million on upgrading, rehabilitating and maintaining rural roads
$40 million for the Nicholas Street Precinct Redevelopment (construction and related costs of the Administration Building, Civic Plaza and retail precincts)
$5.6 million to the development of the Brisbane Lions sports stadium, Springfield Central
$500,000 to advance the options analysis for the 25km Ipswich Central to Springfield Central public transport corridor. ...

[ozbob]

Ipswich Tribune --> Bid to return to 10 councillors $

IPSWICH City Council is pushing for a return to 10 councillors with either single divisions or an extra dual-member division.

The State Government this week approved a mid-term review of Ipswich's dual-member electoral model which will go out for public comment and independent assessment.

Mayor Teresa Harding said she had received confirmation of the review from the Change Commission, the independent body set up to make recommendations to the Minister for Local Government on proposed changes to electoral arrangements.

As reported in the Tribune last year, Councillors voted in favour of a review at the September 16 meeting. ...

[achiruel]

Not a big fan of FPTP in multi-member electorates. Not when you're getting people elected on ~22% of the vote. Maybe they need to have some kind of STV system like the Senate?

[aldonius]

FPTP in multi member electorates is somewhat better than FPTP in single member electorates. Senate style STV would be better on most axes, but FPTP does have the advantage of being cheap and easy to count. Not that that's really ICC's concern as the state government runs all local elections here.

Two member electorates are sh%t though. They're betwixt and between. You don't get quite enough proportionality in exchange for the bigger area covered. 

[ozbob]

ICC: Electoral Arrangement Review
Mid-term review of Council's current multi-member arrangements. Written submissions now open.

> https://www.shapeyouripswich.com.au/electoralarrangementreview2022

Ipswich City Council's electoral arrangements and divisional boundaries were reviewed in 2019, prior to the last election.

As part of that review by the Local Government Change Commission (Change Commission), a mid-term review was recommended to "gauge residents' experiences and satisfaction with the multi-member arrangement and divisional boundaries".

This review is now being undertaken and the Ipswich community can provide written submissions to the Change Commission.

What is being reviewed?

This review is looking at:

multiple councillors in divisions
the overall number of councillors
Submissions can be provided until 5.00 pm on 28 November 2022.

This consultation is being coordinated by the Electoral Commission Queensland.

>>>> ECQ: Ipswich City Council - electoral arrangements review

https://www.ecq.qld.gov.au/electoral-boundaries/local-government-boundary-reviews/external-boundary-and-electoral-arrangement-reviews/ipswich-city-council-electoral-arrangements-review