A sacked Queensland councillor accused of stealing more than $180,000 is struggling to pay for a defence lawyer, a court has heard.

May 17, 2019

A sacked Queensland councillor accused of siphoning more than $180,000 from an engineering company is having trouble finding a defence lawyer, a court has heard.

Former Logan councillor Stacey Lee McIntosh appeared in Brisbane District Court on Friday where her stealing charge was mentioned.

The court heard a trial date had been set for August 19 but McIntosh has no legal representation and a Legal Aid application had not been made.

McIntosh told the court she had previously inquired about Legal Aid support but was told she was ineligible.

“Since then I am no longer employed so I have been able to (reapply),” she said.

“I had finance through the bank, which had gone through, but with my recent termination of employment that has been (cancelled).”

Queensland Local Government Minister Stirling Hinchliffe sacked McIntosh, along with the rest of the Logan City councillors, on May 2 after an investigation by the Crime and Corruption Commission.

She is accused of redirecting client invoice payments and unauthorised refunds from the Cooper Plains-based business.

It’s alleged she siphoned the money into her own bank accounts over two years from mid-2014.

The former Division 6 councillor agreed to stand down from her civic duties after being charged in 2016.

She was formally suspended in May 2018 under new state laws to stand down allegedly corrupt elected officials

Her trial is expected to last up to a month and hear from 100 witnesses.

On Friday, Judge Paul Smith told McIntosh to submit an application for Legal Aid immediately.

He adjourned the matter for mention on June 7.