THE long-running controversy surrounding the renaming of Paul Pisasale Bridge at Springfield and Pisasale Drive at Yamanto has formally concluded, with the Councillor Conduct Tribunal finding Deputy Mayor Nicole Jonic engaged in misconduct by releasing confidential information to a former local journalist.
In December 2021, Ipswich City Council resolved to rename the bridge and drive following community consultation. With most landowners on Pisasale Drive supporting the change, Ipswich residents were invited to submit replacement name suggestions between January 22 and March 11, 2022.
The issue escalated during a June 30, 2022 Council meeting when Councillors Nicole Jonic and Jacob Madsen raised concerns about the validity of the community engagement report used in the renaming process.
Those allegations prompted Mr Pisasale’s name to be temporarily returned before the the decision was reversed less than two weeks later amid widespread public backlash.
Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding said the handling of the matter caused significant damage to both Council and her personal reputation.
“The hardest part of this experience was being wrongly accused repeatedly of altering the community engagement report, despite being cleared of any wrongdoing by the Office of the Independent Assessor,” Mayor Harding said.
“Despite the CEO providing evidence to Deputy Mayor Jonic and Councillor Madsen that these accusations were false, they proceeded to air them in the media and our community in what felt like a political attack aimed at damaging my reputation and standing as Mayor.”
Mayor Harding also criticised the subsequent media coverage surrounding the matter, claiming the allegations continued to be repeated publicly long after the Office of the Independent Assessor had cleared her.
“Both Deputy Mayor Jonic and Councillor Madsen have publicly stated that they regret the way this matter was handled, yet neither have ever apologised to me.”
On April 28, the Councillor Conduct Tribunal determined, on the balance of probabilities, that Deputy Mayor Jonic engaged in misconduct by releasing information she knew, or reasonably should have known, was confidential.
Mayor Harding said she remained focused on serving the community with integrity.
Cr Jonic was contacted for comment but declined to add anything at this time.
