Cr Tony Latter Referred to Crime and Corruption Commission
The Office of the Independent Assessor concluded an investigation into alleged misconduct by Moreton Bay Councillor Tony Latter, escalating the matter for potential prosecution.
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JtA NEWS can reveal that the Office of the Independent Assessor (OIA) has investigated allegations of misconduct against City of Moreton Bay Councillor for Division 12, Tony Latter, with findings suggesting a breach of trust and potential misconduct.
In a letter addressed to Andrew Drovey, dated August 18, 2022, the OIA referred to a complaint lodged on December 13, 2021, concerning Councillor Latter’s conduct during a Council meeting held on December 8, 2021. It was alleged that Councillor Latter failed to declare a conflict of interest related to a resolution authorising the change of the Council’s official title from ‘Moreton Bay Regional Council’ to ‘Moreton Bay City Council.’
Furthermore, the complaint alleged that Councillor Latter, through a company listed on his Register of Interests, registered domain names pertinent to the proposed name change. This action raised suspicions of corrupt conduct, prompting the complaint’s referral to the Crime and Corruption Commission (CCC) on December 15, 2021.
Following an initial assessment, the complaint was returned to the OIA’s jurisdiction on January 27, 2022. Subsequently, on February 4, 2022, Andrew Drovey was notified that an investigation would be undertaken due to suspected misconduct.
The investigation, now concluded, has determined that the matter warrants further action. The OIA has escalated it to the OIA Legal Team for consideration of prosecution before the Councillor Conduct Tribunal, as suspected misconduct.
The alleged misconduct, as outlined by the OIA, pertains to Councillor Latter’s acquisition and registration of domain names related to the proposed name change, utilising confidential information acquired in his capacity as a councillor. Additionally, his involvement in discussions and voting during the Council meeting, despite a conflict of interest, has been highlighted.
The matter will now proceed to the legal realm for further scrutiny and potential disciplinary action. These revelations come after Councillor Latter conceded in a JtA NEWS podcast that adequate public consultation wasn’t undertaken when considering Council’s name change.
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