Aaron Bunch Journalist with Australian Associated Press | Collection of published work | + 61 484 008 119 | abunch@aap.com.au

Aaron Bunch
Qld administrator takes Ipswich reins

Following the sacking of Ipswich City Council, administrator Greg Chemello has stepped in to begin the rebuild.

August 23, 2018

The job of restoring community faith in local government in the southeast Queensland city of Ipswich has begun with a new administrator taking the reins.

But with no guidebook to work from following the passing of extraordinary state laws to sack the council on Tuesday, Greg Chemello says it’s business as usual until he engages with the community and staff.

“There will still be council meetings with myself acting in place of the mayor and councillors,” he told reporters on Thursday.

“(We’ll) at least start out that way and see whether that is the most effective way to manage the council and also deal with the community.”

Mr Chemello joked that he wished there was an administrator’s instruction manual to go with the legislation but none had come with the job.

“So we’ll be creating the guidebook if and ever it needs to happen again but hopefully not,” he quipped.

The former general manager of Economic Development Queensland will almost single-handedly administer the council until the next local government elections in 2020.

On his first day on the job, Mr Chemello said his task was to transform the culture and practice of the Ipswich City Council.

“Recreating a council culture is not just about councillors,” he said.

“It’s about regaining the trust of the community and regaining the trust of the business community.”

The legislation to sack the council was created after 15 councillors and staff, including former mayors Paul Pisasale and Andrew Antoniolli, were charged with a total of 86 corruption-related offences.

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