Mount Isa City Council has voted to take a resolution to the LGAQ Annual Conference 2021 to introduce a fee to lodge a complaint against it, despite the objection of the mayor.
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At Wednesday's council meeting, council heard the cost of investigating complaints was very high therefore Council proposed to formally submit a motion to LGAQ in an attempt to lower these costs and reduce the number of complaints not made in good faith.
The motion heard the complaints are mostly without merit, without evidence or relevant information and made with the intent to "cause harm to an individual or to tie up Council resources both financial and in staffing".
Council said they spent $105,000 investigating complaints since January 2021 alone and determined a fee of $200 would deter frivolous complaints. "All complaint investigation costs are met by the ratepayer and this is unsustainable," Council said
The fee would apply for complainants lodging a complaint regarding corrupt conduct, fraud, misconduct, maladministration, and councillor conduct if the LGAQ approves the motion at its conference.
The fee would be refunded where the complaint is either fully or partly substantiated.
Council said a small number of people consistently made complaints to Council and oversight agencies such as the Crime and Corruption Commission.
Cr Mick Tully, who proposed the motion, said ratepayers were footing the bill for complaints which have been found to be false however Cr Danielle Slade said she would have preferred to strengthen the process rather than introduce a fee.
"I concerned we are making it difficult for community members to complain about us which is not a good look," Cr Slade said.
The motion was passed 6-1 with only Cr Slade voting against.
Cr Slade said she thought it was unlikely the October LGAQ conference would adopt the resolution.
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Derek Barry
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
