Greg Hallam speaks to media after fraud charges laid against Logan councillors were dropped.Credit:Matt Dennien
He said the affected councillors should be compensated and a public apology issued.
There werecheers in the Brisbane Magistrate Court when prosecutors announced they would drop fraud charges against former councillors Russell Lutton,Cherie Dalley,Phil Pidgeon,Steve Swenson,Laurie Smith,Trevina Schwarz and Jennie Breene,along with former mayor Luke Smith,because of a lack of evidence.
Magistrate Stephen Courtney said he believed the move was the “proper decision” due to evidence he heard during committal hearings last year into claims the group pushed out then-chief executive Sharon Kelsey.
Mr Smith will face trial on additional charges at a date to be determined.
“The LGAQ has always maintained the CCC overstepped the mark by wading into an industrial relations dispute – an area over which it does not have jurisdiction – and charging each of these councillors with a serious criminal offence,” Mr Hallam said on Wednesday.
“The Queensland Industrial Relations Commission and the Industrial Court are the forums for which these matters are independently adjudicated,not the CCC. The unprecedented actions of the CCC in this case set about a chain of events that irreparably damaged the lives and reputations of those involved and disenfranchised the Logan community as a consequence.”
Mr Hallam said the decision by the Director of Public Prosecutions not to pursue the charges was vindication after the “massive injustice” faced by the councillors at one of the 10 largest local governments in the country,resulting in careers,lives,relationships and reputations being ruined.