‘They think confidential means embarrassing’: Leaks reveal fresh details of how council CEO was hired

A deputy mayor with links to the woman who was given the $500,000 chief executive job at Redland City Council sought to alter the role’s recruitment timeline, a process she was later accused of politically influencing, a leaked email reveals.

The email is the latest in a string of leaks from within the council to this masthead that show a process marred by conflict of interest concerns and decisions made behind closed doors.

The council has refused to release documents that could shed light on the matter, and has recently made a corporate restructure that a risk expert said could hinder transparency at the council.

After one recruiter quit due to what he called “significant internal issues”, a second was employed. While the eventually successful candidate Louise Rusan was not initially shortlisted, she was brought back as a candidate later.

In late January 2025, the night before the panel interviewed its top five candidates, including Rusan, deputy mayor Julie Talty asked mayor Jos Mitchell and the panel chair Micah Beaumont – who was also the assistant to the CEO – whether more time should be spent on vetting before the final top two were presented to councillors.

“I have some concerns about the timing from interviews and moving straight to introducing the recommended candidate/s to council on Monday,” she wrote.

“Should we settle on one preferred candidate and then change the selection because of any hidden issues with their references etc, we may open so [sic] legal challenge.”

Two days later, after the top two candidates had been picked, and Rusan essentially eliminated, Beaumont wrote to Mitchell and Talty to say media checks had “raised concerns” about one of the candidates.

“It is too late to remove [the candidate] from the process and we could not do that on the basis of mere allegations,” he wrote.

Following interviews with the entire council, the majority of the councillors supported the other candidate, but also wanted to hear from a “third closely ranked candidate”, who was Rusan, according to an email sent from Beaumont to councillors.

Long-term councillor Wendy Boglary then wrote to internal audit and risk figures to express her dismay over change to the agreed-upon process.

She flagged potential political interference, writing that Talty was the driving force behind Rusan receiving another chance at the $500,000 gig.

Rusan has worked at the council for almost Talty’s entire term as councillor, which began in 2012, and council employees describe the pair as close. Last month, while Talty was acting mayor, she and Rusan were seen together at an RSPCA fundraiser at the governor’s house.

Talty was contacted for this story, but did not respond by deadline.

The latest leak came shortly after the council refused a right to information (RTI) request for emails relating to the chief executive’s recruitment, without providing reasons, under a restructured organisation that a risk expert said could undermine transparency.

The restructure, brought on by Rusan in November, removed the role of manager, and moved the RTI, audit and ethics and integrity teams under the council’s head lawyer Andrew Ross.

Ross, who was criticised by the Queensland Ombudsman in 2017 for his role in sending unreasonable threats of legal action over constituents’ social media posts, is currently being sued for defamation by Mitchell over an email he sent to staff.

QUT associate professor Annette Quayle, who sat on the Ipswich City Council audit and risk committee for seven years, said while councils can structure their organisations however they choose, they must ensure they govern in a way that promotes transparency, accountability and ethical decision-making.

Qualye said under the Local Government Act, councillors must be able to receive independent assurances about governance risk and compliance, and putting these transparency measures beneath the legal team carries risk.

“I think that reduces the perceived independence of those assurance functions because you can make it harder for elected councillors to fulfil statutory responsibilities,” she said.

“Legal teams are naturally focused on legal risk, litigation exposure and protecting the organisation, and that can be in complete contrast with integrity and internal audit functions,” she said.

Last week, the council refused this masthead access to internal emails related to the hiring of Rusan without giving a reason.

After multiple extensions, and roughly a week before the decision was due, a manager from the legal office had taken over as decision maker.

One council staff member, who spoke freely to this masthead under condition of anonymity, said it could be because “at Redlands they think confidential means embarrassing”.

A council spokesperson said the restructure improved alignment of its services, creating “a more integrated and efficient approach to governance and compliance across council”.

The council followed due process regarding RTIs, and all correct procedures were followed when Rusan was hired, they said.

“Anyone who believes they may have evidence of impropriety by Council, in any matter, should refer such evidence to the appropriate authority,” they said.

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