Cr Paul Gleeson should resign, says Capalaba MP Don Brown

It is the fourth complaint against Cr Gleeson this year that has culminated in a reprimand from mayor Karen Williams. A fifth was substantiated in 2016.

Cr Gleeson has fired back at Mr Brown saying he would stay put and represent his division.

Cr Gleeson said he had faced attacks from Mr Brown since the local government election, when he was challenged by ALP member Jesse McNamara.

Cr Williams – who launched council’s pledge not to sledge social media campaign in February – scolded politicians’ behaviour, saying residents expected and deserved better.

“Residents are sick and tired of politicians of all levels and persuasions resorting to petty social media arguments,” Cr Williams said. 

“The time spent on dealing with this schoolyard behaviour is time we could all be spending on more worthwhile matters.”

Mr Brown filed the complaint on May 25 over social media posts by Cr Gleeson in November and May.

Mr Brown said Cr Gleeson had “thumbed his nose” at the findings by again sharing one post last week.

“I think the councillor should do the people of division 9 a favour and resign,” Mr Brown said.

“It is clear that he is a repeat offender and will not learn from this lesson.”

Mr Brown said he would complain again about the re-sharing.

Cr Gleeson said the post was a joke and he had replaced Bill Shorten’s name with Don Brown.

“If that is what he has to complain about, it is pathetic,” he said.

“I agree with what the mayor has said about spending time on more worthwhile matters.”

Cr Williams said she had found Cr Gleeson’s actions to be inappropriate conduct, the maximum penalty local government legislation allowed a mayor to impose.

Mr Brown lashed out against Cr Gleeson in Parliament twice in the last year.

He made some comments during debate on bills to tighten laws on local government.

Cr Gleeson has challenged Mr Brown to repeat in public or on social media the comments the MP had made in Parliament.

“I challenge him to step away from the safety of his parliamentary privilege and publish it on his Facebook page.”