A Gold Coast councillor accused of murdering his stepfather must explain to the state government why he should not be suspended from his elected position.
Acting Premier Steven Miles said he was sending a letter to Ryan Donald Bayldon-Lumsden to instruct him to show cause why he should stay in his job as he awaits trial for allegedly murdering Robert Malcolm Lumsden, 58, at the family’s Arundel home on August 23.
Bayldon-Lumsden, 30, was released on bail with a $250,000 surety following a Supreme Court hearing on Thursday.
He has until Friday to dispute the government’s call for an explanation why he should not be suspended with pay until council elections in March.
“That’s a natural justice process to allow them to dispute that decision, but I believe it’s a reasonable outcome to suspend them until after effectively the next quadrennial council elections when a councillor will be elected,” Mr Miles told reporters.
The suspension would be revisited if Bayldon-Lumsden chose to stand for office again.
Bayldon-Lumsden’s lawyers have said he intends to plead not guilty.
The Palaszczuk government sought urgent Crown law advice and Mr Miles, who is also the local government minister, informed cabinet of the move on Monday.
Mr Miles said the government had been in constant contact with Gold Coast City Council about its options and the legal advice.
He said he had the to power to appoint an adviser to take care of day-to-day representation in Bayldon-Lumsden’s northern Gold Coast ward and he had asked the council to consider who an appropriate replacement would be.
Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate said he respected the acting premier’s decision.
After indicating he intended to meet Bayldon-Lumsden this week to discuss his future, Mr Tate said he had not yet spoken to him.
“I’m sure Cr Bayldon-Lumsden has a lot more to consider between now and Friday so I will leave him to consider what he needs to do until then,” the mayor said in a statement.
Bayldon-Lumsden became the youngest ever Gold Coast councillor when was elected at age 27 in 2020.
1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)
Lifeline 13 11 14
© AAP 2023
