Councillor Conduct Tribunal

The Councillor Conduct Tribunal was set up under the Local Government (Councillor Complaints) and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2018.

The Tribunal is an independent body, made up of 14 members and a President appointed by the Governor in Council. It is responsible for dealing with complaints of misconduct by councillors.

The Department of Local Government, Water and Volunteers assists the tribunal with administrative and secretariat support to enable it to carry out its role effectively.

Registry location and hours

The Councillor Conduct Tribunal Registry is open from 8am to 4pm weekdays (closed on public holidays).

1 William Street, Brisbane Qld 4000
07 3452 6745 (during business hours)
PO Box 15009, City East Qld 4002

Service of documents is accepted by email. Contact: cct@dlgwv.qld.gov.au

If documents are to be served in person, make prior arrangements with Registry staff.

Email media enquiries: cct@dlgwv.qld.gov.au

Function

The role of the Tribunal is to hear and decide complaints of misconduct by councillors as referred by the Office of the Independent Assessor.

Tribunal decisions

After a hearing, the Tribunal must decide whether the councillor has been involved in misconduct. If the Tribunal decides the councillor has engaged in misconduct, the Tribunal must then decide what action it will follow for 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 view a list of past tribunal decisions.

Practice directions

You can view 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 the:

• assessor
• councillor
• local government
• person who made the complaint, where possible.

Generally, a notice about a decision given to the assessor or councillor must be a Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT) information notice.

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 must be sent to Crown Law, State Law Building, Level 11, 50 Ann Street, Brisbane Qld 4000.