MEDIA RELEASE

A petition is now circulating in both electronic and paper formats calling on the State Government to act in ensuring that FCRC CEO is removed from office. The electronic version of the petition can be found here: http://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/work-of-assembly/petitions/e-petition?PetNum=2689
Paper versions will also be available and I will update on the relevant locations or events where the paper petitions can be signed.
So why this petition? So far, the CEO has flat out refused to back down and resign. The CEO has not explained her actions / inaction – it will take a massive public outcry to get the majority of Councillors or the Qld State Government to act in the public interest.
The Mayor has power to remove the CEO by putting a motion forward to Councillors but we know the numbers are not in chambers. It is important to note that 74% of staff have completed the
anonymous survey as requested by Mayor Chris Loft. Prior to this survey staff participation at best was 35 – 40%. This confirms that staff have a lot to say about what is happening behind closed doors and want a change.
It is understood that the CCC has 33 FCRC complaints before them which were submitted in 2016. I am waiting for Frankie Carroll, Director-General of the Department of Infrastructure, Local
Government and Planning to advise which complaints have been finalised, how many remain outstanding and when they will be publicly available.
I agree with many who say ‘sack the lot of them’, however, there is no point sacking the Councillors until someone has dealt with the organisational transparency and accountability; which includes the Executive team and that starts with the CEO.
I cannot believe the rate payers are paying the salaries for these people and the saga is allowed to continue. When is the State Government going to show leadership and put an end to the ongoing open undermining of efforts and grossly disrespecting the Office of Mayor? How much longer will our staff have to go to work under this type of toxic environment and how long is the community going to have to put up with this?
In an email dated 16th March 2016, (3 days prior to the local government elections Lisa Desmond penned “The wheels have fallen off this bus, there is way too many matters that are falling through the cracks. No follow up, no accountability, no responsibility and urgent action is required now to start getting this organisation back on track.” She went on further to say “We are floundering on our continuous improvement and efficiency drives across Directorates and failing basic legislative responsibilities. Examples: backflow prevention device testing, animal compliance, DA register required under SPA, Asset Management, Forward Designs, capital infrastructure planning, I could go on.” This email is referred to in the State Government Report so the ‘advisors’ Steven Johnson, Deputy Director-General, Local Government and Regional Services, at the time, now CEO of Bundaberg Regional Council and Terry Brennan, former Cassowary Coast Regional Council CEO knew; therefore the Department and Jacklyn Trad Minister, Deputy Premier and Minister for Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning knew about it also.
State Government, Councillors and the media are not asking the right questions about this. Why aren’t they? This should be discussed in open council.
After several requests for intervention from Qld State Government and my phone constantly ringing with ‘disgruntled’ staff and residents, I decided mid November 2016 to commence enquiries into a conforming petition to have Lisa Desmond removed as CEO from Fraser Coast Regional Council. The delay in publishing this conforming petition was because the Parliamentary Clerk went on leave.
The reasons for this Petition are numerous and varied:
* doctoring minutes
* inaccurate reporting
* micromanaging councillors
* wasteful expenditure
* Wide Bay Water fiasco
* Toogoom Rockwall debacle
* contractors contracts and obligations
* economic failure of Bauple
* approval of incomplete development applications
* missing backflow register
* secrecy surrounding CEO extension of contract
* staff working in a toxic environment and the rate payer is paying for all this plus much more.
This list of failures that demonstrate gross maladministration cannot simply be ignored. Again, why hasn’t State Government, Councillors and the media been asking the right questions about this?
A paper version of the petition is also available for those that would like to get signatures from those who are not on the internet. Please contact me to arrange hard copies. I will arrange locations for the petition to be available across the Fraser Coast and also advise of locations and times for the community to come say hello, ask any questions and sign. If you would
like to be a coordinator in your area please let me know.
Paper petitions must be returned to me by Tuesday 7th March 2017, so it can be finalised and tabled at Parliament sitting commencing Tuesday 14th March 2017. Online Petition closes Friday 3rd March 2017. Click Here: http://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/work-of-assembly/petitions/e-petition?PetNum=2689
If all tiers of Government were doing their job properly at Local, State and Federal levels I would not be receiving all the requests I do for help 7 days a week.
I want our representatives to be striving for ‘great governance’. If you agree that basic ‘good governance’ is lacking, transparent and accountable government is no longer, then please sign the
petition. I want to see strong leadership with caring integrity. If you want this too, please sign the petition.
Thank you so much for helping fight for ‘good governance’.
Jannean Dean
#WeDemandGoodGovernance #CaringWithIntegrity #NotGoodEnough