Sharon Kelsey, fired as Logan CEO after reporting misconduct, says Smith’s admission of guilt was a long time coming
But on Tuesday morning in Brisbane’s district court, the former mayor pleaded guilty to receiving a “secret commission from an agent” in 2016 after accepting a powerboat from a party trying to influence his position on the council.The charges related to Smith obtaining the vessel from a former director of SKL Cables, seven months after the company submitted a development application to the council.
Smith also pleaded guilty to misconduct in relation to public office and failing in his obligation to update his register of interests. He is due to be sentenced on Thursday.Kelsey told Guardian Australia that Smith’s admission of guilt had been a long time coming, but is glad there is finally “some sunlight shining on the matters”.
“It’s just a shame it’s taken five years and in the meantime, it’s … had more than a significant personal detrimental impact on me, my career and, of course, my life more generally and for those around me,” she said.“I had made disclosures and I was required to do that as CEO of the council,” she said.
“If this can happen to someone like me in that role, it scares me to think [about] the future of public interest matters,” she said. “Clearly the behaviour was criminal and yet, the response is to … victimise the whistleblower, and to essentially attack the messenger. It’s totally unacceptable.”
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