The South Burnett Regional Council Has A Toxic Culture As Male Councillors Continue To Abuse Women.
The South Burnett Regional Council has a toxic culture as male Councillors continue to abuse women.
Only this week the Councillor Conduct Tribunal (CCT) found former South Burnett Regional Councillor Terry Fleischfresser had engaged in misconduct when he touched a woman in an unwanted and unwarranted manner.
The CCT found there were two instances in which Mr Fleischfresser placed his hands on the woman’s waist or leg at a citizenship ceremony at council chambers in 2019, and that he made a noise in her ear during one of the interactions.
In denying the claims Mr Fleischfresser presented a different version of events, but the CCT found the woman’s allegations were supported by eyewitnesses.
Kathleen Florian from the OIA said Mr Fleischfresser’s attempts to justify or excuse his behaviour as an expression of affection or friendship were inappropriate, and that his unethical behaviour constituted a breach of the trust placed in him as a councillor.
It formally reprimanded him to serve as a public condemnation of such conduct by an elected official and in the hope that future councillors would observe higher standards of behaviour. In 2017 the Office of Independent Assessor ruled that under Section 181 of the Act, Cr Gavin Jones was ordered to participate in mediation with a fellow councillor after he was found guilty of bullying the then Division 6 Councillor Ros Heit. Cr Jones received a written reprimand for his actions.
Meanwhile Councillor Scott Henschen faced the Kingaroy Magistrates Court on Friday 5th March 2021, to defend a civil application filed by his former campaign manager Judy Schulz.
Schulz filed a complaint against Henschen for inappropriate conduct on 2nd June 2020 to the Office of Independent Assessor (OIA). It is alleged that Henschen disclosed details to a constituent during a council related phone call the details of a private email sent to him from Schulz, it is further alleged the Councillor also disclosed her private affairs and conversation she shared with Henschen to the constituent.
The complaint was referred to the Council Conduct Tribunal for further investigation and became subject of a Council Conduct Tribunal investigation. On Wednesday 24th March 2021, it was affirmed that Scott Henschen will now face his fate by Mayor Otto after Cr. Gavin Jones, Cr. Danita Potter, Cr. Kathy Duff and Mayor Brett Otto all declared a conflict of interest in the matter leaving Cr Kirstie Schumacher the only Councillor clear to make a decision. Councillor Ros Frohloff was conveniently anent on the day.
However, the Council's CEO Mark Pitt wrote to the Minister for guidance with the Minister approving the Mayor & Cr Duff permitted to make a ruling. A motion was moved and passed 4-1 that the Mayor is solely to decide the fate for his mate Cr Scott Henschen.
Meanwhile in the last ten months the complainant, Judy Schulz, reached out to Mayor Otto submitting complaint after complaint regarding Henschen's behaviour yet was ignored by the Mayor and CEO. It was only after Schulz threatened legal action with her lawyers stepping in, Council’s lawyers are now involved and communicating directly to Ms Schulz’s legal representatives.
Councillor Scott Henschen will face court at a date to be advised in the next process of the civil actions for assault, stalking and harassment. Henschen is accused of allegedly unlawfully accessing her accounts & denying her access to her credit card, disclosing her private information and contents of a confidential and private email sent from Schulz to Henschen, to a constituent during a council related business phone call. He is also accused of defaming her, bullying, harassing, stalking and assaulting Schulz as well as being instrumental in an ambush along with his friends Laura & Jack Newbery that occurred at the Coopers Gap Windfarm in November last year.
On Friday 26th March 2021, it was reported by supporters via Facebook there is now a 2nd complaint under investigation with the OIA for inappropriate conduct against the embattled Councillor.
This toxic behaviour from Scott Henschen is unacceptable! This kind of behaviour isn’t ok! A Councillor should represent their community with the highest integrity. Scott Henschen is not a man of integrity nor is he a man that deserves the position as Councillor or the respect of the community or his Division 6 constituents.
Staying Silent - You Endorse the Toxic Behaviour! This Isn’t Ok! Support this courageous woman, Judy Schulz who found her strong voice and spoke out publicly against her perpetrator and sign to have Councillor Scott Henschen sacked!