A REDLAND City councillor is calling for the State Government to consider an independent review into allegations of inappropriate conduct at a meeting, reigniting debate over workplace culture.
Division 5 councillor Shane Rendalls – Councillor Div 5, Redland Council has lodged a Notice of Motion for next week’s General Meeting seeking council support to reaffirm its commitment to respectful behaviour and request the Chief Executive Officer write to the State Government about whether an independent review is warranted.
The motion follows public comments made by Mayor Jos Mitchell on April 29 regarding an alleged incident at a meeting held two days earlier.
In a public statement, Mayor Mitchell said she had been “treated in a way that is entirely unacceptable” and declared it was “well and truly time to draw a line in the sand”.
She further stated: “Many excuse poor behaviour in this realm by calling it politics. However, there is a difference between politics and behaviour that is rude, disrespectful, belittling, threatening, intimidating, bullying and harassing.”
Cr Rendalls’ motion notes council has previously adopted resolutions aimed at promoting respectful conduct and addressing bullying behaviour.
If supported, the first part of the motion would formally reaffirm council’s commitment to fostering a respectful and professional culture consistent with those earlier resolutions.
The second part would ask the CEO to write to the Director-General of the Department of Local Government, Water and Volunteers seeking consideration of whether an independent review is warranted into concerns raised about the April 27 meeting.
In the background information accompanying the motion, Cr Rendalls references the Mayor’s public comments and argues the matter aligns with council’s commitment to maintaining appropriate standards of behaviour.
The proposed motion comes amid ongoing scrutiny of governance and workplace culture issues within Redland City Council.
It will be debated when councillors meet on June 17.
If adopted, the motion would not itself initiate an investigation but would seek State Government consideration of whether an independent review should be undertaken.
