Operation Windage report highlights culture and corruption risks in Ipswich

Local Government Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said:

“The CCC’s Operation Windage report into culture and corruption risks at Ipswich City Council underlines the urgent need to dismiss Council and appoint an administrator.

“The report identifies a wide spectrum of serious governance and integrity failures that make absolutely shocking reading.

“Suspected official corruption, improper use of power and influence for personal benefit and a lack of accountability for public resources – these are extremely disturbing findings.

“Other findings in the report are equally alarming:

• inappropriate relationships between the Council and the private sector, in particular property developers and contractors;
• failure to keep a fraud risk register, despite a recommendation to do so from the internal auditor;
• failure to record gifts and benefits received in the Council’s gifts and benefits register; and
• senior members of council influencing decision-making processes to benefit close associates.

“It concerns me greatly that honest, hard-working staff have been adversely impacted by this unacceptable behaviour along with local businesses and the Ipswich economy.

“Staff who wanted to report corrupt behaviour feared losing their jobs or the prospect of having their careers ruined just for doing the right thing.

“As Local Government Minister, I can’t ignore the clear evidence of widespread wrongdoing at the highest levels of Council.

“I will carefully consider this report and its recommendations and continue to progress our Local Government reforms, which aim to make all Queensland councils more accountable while supporting the vast majority of Councillors who are doing the right thing by their communities.”

Media contact: Martin Philip 0427 919 548