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Councillor Conduct Tribunal

The Councillor Conduct Tribunal has been established under the Local Government (Councillor Complaints) and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2018.

The Tribunal is an independent body, made up of 6 members and a President appointed by the Governor in Council. It is responsible for dealing with complaints of misconduct by councillors.

The Department of State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning provides administrative and secretariat assistance to the Tribunal to enable it to effectively perform its responsibilities.

Registry location and hours

The Councillor Conduct Tribunal Registry is open between 8.00 am-4.00 pm weekdays (closed on public holidays).

1 William Street, Brisbane
07 3452 6745 (during business hours)
PO Box 15009, City East, Qld, 4002

Service of documents is accepted by email to cct@dsdilgp.qld.gov.au

If documents are to be served in person, prior arrangement is to be made with Registry staff.

All media enquiries are to be emailed to cct@dsdilgp.qld.gov.au

Functions

The functions of the Tribunal are:

  1. to hear and decide complaints of misconduct by councillors as referred by the Office of the Independent Assessor
  2. to investigate the suspected inappropriate conduct of a councillor referred to the local government, by the assessor and to be dealt with by the local government
  3. to make recommendations to the local government about dealing with the conduct.

Tribunal decisions

After conducting a hearing, the Tribunal must decide whether or not the councillor has engaged in misconduct. If the Tribunal decides the councillor has engaged in misconduct, the Tribunal must then decide what action it will take to discipline the councillor.

The Tribunal may decide:

  1. that no action be taken against the councillor
  2. to make one or more of the following orders or recommendations that the councillor—
    1. make a public admission that the councillor has engaged in misconduct
    2. attend training or counselling to address the councillor’s conduct, including at the expense of the councillor
    3. pay to the local government an amount that is not more than the monetary value of 50 penalty units
    4. reimburse the local government for all or some of the costs arising from the councillor’s misconduct
    5. is not to act as the deputy mayor or the chairperson of a committee of the local government for the remainder of the councillor’s term
    6. is not to attend a stated number of local government meetings, up to a maximum of 3 meetings
    7. is removed, or must resign, from a position representing the local government, other than the office of councillor; or
    8. an order reprimanding the councillor for the conduct

You can views a list of past tribunal decisions.

Practice directions

You can views a list of practice directions.

Members

Read more about the members of the tribunal.

Publication

The Tribunal must keep a record and provide a notice of the decision including the reasons for the decision to:

  1. the assessor; and
  2. the councillor; and
  3. the local government; and
  4. where possible the person who made the complaint.

Generally, a notice about a decision given to the assessor or councillor must be a QCAT Information notice for the decision.

Appeals

A person who is entitled to be given a QCAT information notice for the review of the Tribunal decision may apply under the QCAT Act, to have the Tribunal matter re heard and decided upon by QCAT.

All QCAT applications for review of Tribunal decisions are to be served on Crown Law, State Law Building, Level 11, 50 Ann Street, Brisbane QLD 4000.

Last updated: 28 Nov 2023