Redland Mayor Karen Williams has been investigated for misconduct by an independent assessor after complaints about her drink driving offence.
Key points:
- Mayor Williams’s blood alcohol concentration was more than three times the legal limit
- The Mayor has committed to return to work this week despite calls for her to resign
- Mr Brown says he wrote to Steven Miles asking for the matter to be investigated
The Office of the Independent Assessor (OIA) confirmed it concluded an investigation into Ms Williams, relating to her crash in Cleveland in June, and the matter could be referred to the Councilor Conduct Tribunal.
Ms Williams was sentenced to 80 hours of community service and had her license disqualified for six months after pleading guilty to drink driving at the Cleveland Magistrates Court on Monday.
Her blood alcohol concentration was 0.177, more than three times the legal limit when she crashed her car on June 23.
The court heard Ms Williams crossed four lanes of traffic before she left the road, entered a ditch and struck a tree in the single-vehicle crash.
No conviction was recorded, and she was not fined over the offence.
The Redland Mayor described the incident as a “lapse in judgment” and has committed to return to work this week.
Member for Capalaba Don Brown said he wrote to Local Government Minister Steven Miles asking for the events leading up to the drink driving incident, including a zoom call with families of drink driving victims, to be investigated by the OIA.
“Elected officials, in the code of conduct for local government, can’t be drunk while conducting work — that’s what they’re investigating right now,” Mr Brown said.
Mr Brown said Ms Williams had lost the trust of her constituents.
“This is a time where Karen must put the people of Redlands first and know that we need new leadership.”
Ms Williams has been contacted for comment.
The OIA said the matter was currently with legal undergoing a natural justice process before possible referral to the Councilor Conduct Tribunal to decide.
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