Queensland Residents draws to the attention of the House the announcement by the State Government to initiate proceedings which may lead to the Ipswich City Council being moved into the hands of administrators. Residents voted councillors to their positions and we continue to support our decision. If the Government chooses to remove the council, they are taking away our fundamental right to choose our leaders and undermining the democratic system our nation was built on. Administration would result in a significant step backwards for our community. It would stop strategic planning and halt redevelopments like the Ipswich Mall. Nobody would gather to advocate for our needs. There would be no presence of council dignitaries at functions that mean so much to us and our families. We would be left without representation and guidance from councillors who over the past twelve months have demonstrated their capacity by introducing over twenty policies and procedures that are based on accountability and transparency. We acknowledge and welcome investigations into allegations of wrongdoing, however there is no need to remove our council while these investigations are on foot. To do this would be to set a new standard for all workplaces – that people are presumed guilty before proven otherwise, and that individuals are not assessed on their own merit, but labelled and punished with others.

Your petitioners, therefore, request the House to ensure that the Ipswich City Council is not put into the hands of administrators.