General News
11 September, 2025
SDRC comes “first” in complaints
Complaints against SDRC councillors
The Southern Downs was fourth in the state for the number of complaints made to the Office of the Independent Assessor against councillors in the 2024/25 financial year. Taking population into account, the shire easily came in first place. One expert theorises that social media may be one of the causes.
The number of complaints, 68, were revealed during a committee meeting in Parliament on August 27 which was chaired by Member for the Southern Downs James Lister.
Taking populations into account, the number of complaints against SDRC councillors is extraordinary. The highest number of complaints were in Redlands (114), population 170,000; followed by Townsville (113), population 204,000; and Logan (72), population 392,000. The population of the Southern Downs is approximately 37,800.
The unusually high number of complaints raises the question of what the underlying cause or causes of the complaints are, who is lodging the complaints, which councillor/councillors are the subject of so many complaints?
Complaints have greatly increased in recent years. More than 1000 were received by the OIA in 2024, far more than the 160 it was originally mandated to oversee. Statistics indicate that about half of all complaints are sourced from members of the public, and most of the rest from the local government sector. Around 81% of complaints are dismissed.
During the parliamentary meeting, Mr Lister was interested in the internal review process. If a complaint is dismissed, the complainant can ask for an internal review. Last year there were 34 requests for an internal review, 30 of which upheld the original decision.
Mr Lister then asked the independent assessor, Bronwyn Blagoev, if correspondence to those who lodged complaints that were dismissed included avenues of appeal. He was told yes.
Later in the meeting, Mr Lister challenged Ms Blagoev, saying, “I’ve got here a matter that was decided by your office and there doesn’t appear to be a reference in it to the opportunity for a complainant to seek and internal review merely just to say if you’ve got any questions to contact the office. So, I’m not going to disclose the source or the material in this but would you have a guess is this an oversight in this one case or is it that all letters going out to complainants not advising them that they can seek an internal review.”
Ms Blagoev replied she would have to check but her understanding is that complainants are advised of the internal review option.
Ms Blagoev said that social media, in her opinion, has increased the number of complaints. The OIA now offers webinars to councillors on “dealing with all sorts of challenges they face on social media.”
Educating the public about what is and what is not the role of councillors needs improvement.
Ms Blagoev also told Parliament that there is a pattern of increased complaints with a new council, “new councillors, new mayor”.
Many of the complaints are “very, very minor” she said. The OIA will warn vexatious complainers although “that is not something that is done regularly.” Indeed, only 14 out of 1008 complaints last year were dismissed as vexatious. About 21% of complaints are councillors complaining about other councillors; about 17% of complaints are anonymous.
“Every time we assess we ask ourselves ‘is this vexatious’?”
While the OIA does not comment on specific complaints, The Town & Country Journal received confirmation from the OIA regarding the number of complaints. The OIA referred the paper to the SDRCs register of complaints in regard to any complaints that may have come back to council for investigation or further action.
The Town & Country Journal also asked the SDRC about the nature of the numerous complaints and were told to consult the SDRC annual reports.
The 2023/24 SDRC annual report indicates that there were 11 complaints referred to the assessor under section 150P(2)(a) of the Local Government Act 2009 by local government entities for the local government totalled 11. There were also 21 notices given under section 150R(2) of the Local Government Act 2009 involving government officials.
The SDRC website lists only eight complaints in 2024 and none in 2025. The Town & Country Journal asked for an explanation and is awaiting reply.
In the 2022/23 financial year, the SDRC annual report relates 25 complaints. The same number of complaints were recorded in the previous financial year. In the 2019/20 financial year, the annual report stated “Five decisions made under section 150W (1) (a), one decision made under section 150W (1) (b), one decision made under section 150W (d) and four decisions made under section 150W (1) (e) of the Local Government Act 2009. · One referral notice accompanied by a recommendation mentioned in section 150AC (3) (a) of the Local Government Act 2009.”
What the consequences of the Southern Downs high number of complaints will be remains to be seen. “We do use our data in a variety of ways”, Ms Blagoev said. Despite legislative “secrecy provisions” the OIA can approach ministers or utilise other interventions for councils with high and increasing numbers.
