The chief executive of a regional council has been sensationally sacked during a livestreamed meeting.
CEO Dave Burges had his contract terminated by the Southern Downs Regional Council during its Ordinary Meeting on Wednesday.
The Southern Downs Council is a local government area in Queensland’s Darling Downs region in the state’s southwest.
Mr Burges had been CEO for over four years since mid-2020 and is understood to have been on long service leave at the time.
Mayor Melissa Hamilton moved the motion as the last order of business.
‘I’m going to move a motion that council terminates the chief executive officers’ employment in accordance with section 18.1E of the contract of employment with council and the officer made on 19 June 2023 effective immediately. Do I have a seconder for that motion?’ Mayor Hamilton said.
After the motion was seconded, councillor Ross Bartley took to his feet and spoke against the motion while praising the outgoing CEO.
‘I’d just like to say in my 20 years plus of local government I’ve worked with five full-time CEOs and as many acting, and in that time I found the previous CEO to be one of the most professional and efficient I’ve ever worked with,’ he said.
CEO Dave Burges (pictured) was fired by the Southern Downs Regional Council during the council’s Ordinary Meeting on Wednesday
Mayor Melissa Hamilton moved the motion as the last order of business (meeting is pictured)
‘So it’s disappointing to me that our CEO has been terminated, but it seems to be that is life of local government.’
Councillor Russell Wantling also spoke against the motion.
‘I’d like to speak against it also,’ he told the group.
‘I actually had one of the staff come up to me recently and they said to me that councillors come and go and so do mayors. And they said that they were so happy to be actually working with a good CEO for once.’
Another councillor started to pay tribute to Mr Burges, before being cut off by Mayor Hamilton who said: ‘We haven’t made the motion…’
But they continued: ‘If the motion was to pass, I’d like to say that I’m thankful for the time that David spent with us new councillors in this term and I wish him the best for the future.’
Angry residents took to the council’s Facebook page to criticise the move with former councillor Andrew Gale writing that he was ‘appalled’.
‘I am absolutely shocked and horrified at the Councilor’s who today voted to SACK the best CEO who has worked with council in recent years,’ one person wrote.
‘Very disappointing result. Councillor’s Wantling and Bartly are to be commended for voting against the motion.’
‘Shame Shame Shame. Sack the bloke when he’s on his first holiday in four years and not even there to defend himself,’ a second wrote.
‘Why is the CEO being dismissed? Surely the public needs to know,’ a third said.
Mayor Melissa Hamilton (pictured) paid tribute to Mr Burges and wished him well for the future
‘Southern Downs Regional Council announced at its Ordinary Meeting on Wednesday 18 September 2024 that it will be pursuing new leadership opportunities as it moves to terminate the employment contract of Chief Executive Officer Dave Burges, effectively immediately,’ the council said in a statement.
‘The termination was administered in accordance with the contract terms, as agreed by the previous Council.’
Steve Jackson will be acting CEO at the council during the recruitment process.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Mr Burges for comment.
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