General News
18 February, 2025
Former CEO launches action against TRC
FORMER Tablelands Regional Council chief executive officer Gary Rinehart has initiated action against the organisation with the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission related to the circumstances under which he suddenly departed from the council late last year.
Mr Rinehart’s case was the subject of a conference held by the commission on 10 February which is scheduled to resume this Thursday, but no details have been made public.
It is understood Mr Rinehart still had nine months to go on his contract when council staff were suddenly emailed the news on 11 October 2024 that he had “concluded his term”.
The Express immediately contacted TRC that day but was provided no information until five days later, through a media statement which simply echoed the phrase that Mr Rinehart had “concluded his term”.
The Express has since sent questions to Mayor Rod Marti to try to find out on ratepayers’ behalf what the circumstances were around the CEO’s departure.
When questioned as to whether a payout was in play, Mayor Marti responded in an email that: “As per the minutes, Councillors have resolved to delegate authority to the Mayor to negotiate, finalise and execute all documents necessary.”
Asked whether Mr Rinehart had left of his own volition or whether council had asked him to leave, Mayor Marti replied: “That is not correct and such agreements between the parties are always confidential.”
In November, former councillor David Clifton raised concerns about the CEO’s departure, saying the whole situation was “concerning”.
“That Tablelands Regional Council is recruiting its third CEO in four years is very concerning,” he said at the time.
“The community is still in the dark about what actually happened to prompt Mr Rinehart’s decision and whether he resigned or was ‘pushed’ like the previous two incumbents.”
The Express contacted TRC to obtain comment regarding the Industrial Relations case but the organisation declined to comment, with Acting CEO Hiliary Jackson saying “this is an ongoing matter between TRC and a former employee”.
