Assessment

The OIA assesses complaints about councillor conduct in Queensland.

• Complaints assessed as alleged misconduct may be subject to an OIA investigation and possible referral to the Councillor Conduct Tribunal (CCT) to determine.
• A complaint is referred to the Crime and Corruption Commission if it raises a reasonable suspicion of corrupt conduct.
• During assessment, complainants, councillors and councils may be asked for further information to assist with the proper assessment of a complaint.

In determining the outcome of the assessment of a complaint, the Independent Assessor must decide:

• whether to investigate the conduct, to dismiss or take no further action in relation to the complaint based on statutory considerations, or
• not to deal with the complaint but make a recommendation that the Independent Assessor considers to be appropriate including attending training, counselling or mediation.

The OIA must dismiss a complaint or take no further action if:

• it was received more than one year after the conduct occurred, or within six months of it becoming known to the complainant, but within two years after the conduct occurred (subject to exceptional circumstances or it involves suspected corrupt conduct)
• it relates solely to a councillor’s personal conduct, unless it is suspected corrupt conduct
• the office of the councillor is vacated, unless it is suspected corrupt conduct
• the conduct was engaged in by the councillor to comply, honestly and without negligence, with a guideline made by the Director-General of the department responsible for local government
• the complainant is subject to a ‘vexatious complainant’ declaration
• the complaint clearly does not constitute misconduct, or
• it is not in the public interest to proceed.

The OIA must also consider the application of the Human Rights Act 2019.

The OIA has a robust assessment process where a complaint may be dismissed or subject to no further action if:

• the conduct has already been, is being, or may be dealt with by another entity
• it does not contain sufficient information for a proper assessment
• it is not a justifiable use of resources to take further action
• it is vexatious, frivolous, not made in good faith, or lacks substance or credibility
• any steps taken by the councillor mitigate or remedy the effects of the conduct
• for any reasons or factor relevant to the conduct (i.e., has the councillor attended training, or First Nations’ cultural considerations, or
• any steps the councillor has taken to mitigate or remedy the effects of the conduct.