Minister expects Friends of Noosa to get ‘short shrift’ from CMC

Local Government Minister Warren Pitt says he expects the Friends of Noosa will get short shrift from the Crime and Misconduct Commission over their claims that Queensland’s new local government boundaries were the result of a rorted process.

Mr Pitt said the Friends of Noosa had claimed they had presented the CMC with ‘prima facie proof’ that the new boundaries were already decided before the independent Local Government Reform Commission handed down its report.

“Either the Friends of Noosa have a very confused understanding of what ‘prima facie’ means, or they are deluding themselves that the CMC are going to investigate their discredited conspiracy theories”, Mr Pitt said.

Mr Pitt said he looked forward to the CMC’s response, as he was sure it would find the Friends of Noosa had not presented any information worth investigating.

“The Friends of Noosa have cried foul because they don’t like the independent Local Government Reform Commission’s recommendation that Noosa Shire Council should be part of the new Sunshine Coast Regional Council.

“They are claiming that the commission was not an independent body at all, and that the new councils and boundaries were predetermined.

“There isn’t a skerrick of evidence to support this claim, and I am confident this is what the CMC will tell us.”

Media contact: Minister Pitt’s Office 3227 8819