IPSWICH Mayor Teresa Harding has accused fellow councillors of trying to create a ratepayer-funded “internal PR team” for themselves as a bitter fight over Ipswich City Council’s new media policy heads to a decisive vote.
At the centre of the dispute is a proposal allowing Council’s corporate communications staff to help prepare and distribute individual councillors’ media statements.
“I have never seen any proposal like this with any other Queensland council,” Cr Harding said.
“I have now seen three or four attempts from councillors trying to use Council’s media policy to minimise the voice of the Mayor and maximise their own.
“Typically, it’s been through tactics like this, drafting media policies that minimise or, in this case, drown out the voice of the Mayor in the media.”
But Cr Paul Tully and Cr Jacob Madsen strongly rejected suggestions councillors were seeking to undermine the Mayor, arguing all councillors were independently elected and entitled to communicate with their communities.
“This is a democracy. Everyone around this table has a voice. No one is taking away your voice, Mayor,” Cr Tully said.
The increasingly heated dispute erupted during last week’s Finance and Governance Committee meeting, where significant amendments moved by Cr Tully were carried despite concerns about their timing, workload and potential cost.
“Council’s corporate communications team should be a point of truth for our media and community about what is happening in our Council and city, not used on demand to blur the lines between official statements of Council and the personal views of councillors,” Cr Harding said.
The potential cost to ratepayers became a major flashpoint after Council CEO Sonia Cooper confirmed amendments proposed by Cr Tully and Deputy Mayor Nicole Jonic had not been provided to her or specifically consulted on before the committee meeting.
“If, after monitoring, it becomes evident that it’s not able to be implemented within current resources, then I would have to bring that back to you as a Council and raise that through any budget considerations, whether a budget amendment or a consideration for next financial year’s budget,” she said.
Cr Madsen strongly defended councillors’ right to have their voices heard.
“We have statutory rights and the right to be heard as elected representatives,” he said.
The recommendation was ultimately carried at committee level, with Cr Harding and Cr Jonic voting against and Cr Marnie Doyle abstaining.
Councillors will have the final say when the amended policy comes before today’s Ordinary Council Meeting.
