‘A Tale of Two Cities’ – Ipswich and Logan in Administration

Local government in Queensland has been the subject of close examination over the past few years.  There have been multiple investigations by the Crime and Corruption Commission (CCC), public hearings into corruption and integrity matters, rafts of legislative amendments, and intense public scrutiny of elected members.
 
‘Operation Belcarra’ was launched by the CCC in late 2016 to examine practices that might give rise to corruption, or otherwise undermine public confidence in the integrity of local government.  The fallout was that two of Queensland’s largest local governments, Ipswich and Logan, were both placed into administration after the Parliament passed legislation dismissing the elected representatives. 

The Minister for Local Government appointed Interim Administrators to exercise the powers and responsibilities of those Councils until the March 2020 election, together with Interim Management Committees to support the Interim Administrators.

Through the Interim Administrators and members of the Interim Management Committees of Ipswich and Logan, this moderated panel discussion will:

• explore the challenges and opportunities associated with local governments in administration;
• examine the roles of the Interim Administrator and the Interim Management Committee;
• detail the various reforms and projects undertaken by Ipswich and Logan to transition those Councils to best practice governance; and 
• consider the importance of transparency, accountability and integrity in local government.