The Mayor of Ipswich says she is "bitterly disappointed" by her council's decision to keep a bridge and road named after a former mayor who is serving time in jail for corruption and sex offences.
Last year, the council west of Brisbane resolved to remove disgraced former mayor Paul Pisasale's name from a bridge in Springfield and a road in Yamanto, the second of which is supposedly named after his parents.
But at a council meeting yesterday, Pisasale's former deputy and current councillor, Paul Tully, moved to leave the assets in his name, and was supported by a majority.
Mayor Teresa Harding said she was shocked and disgusted by her fellow councillors' decision.
"I hope it's not a sign of times for us, but I will continue to fight the good fight here in Ipswich."
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said she did not support the council's decision.
"It's a matter for the Ipswich City Council, however, do I support that bridge being named after Paul Pisasale? No I do not."
State Opposition Leader David Crisafulli said the decision would anger residents and hamper efforts of reform.
"You have a mayor who's trying to bring a bit of sunlight into the city and stamp out a dark era of dodgy deals and she's having her nose rubbed in that fact," he said.
"At risk of going back to a theme that we've spoken of countless times, these people have links to the Labor Party, and I'm just not sure why they're not getting the message that people want to see integrity in government.
"To put somebody's name up in lights, who has created a real dark stain on that proud city and you have a mayor who's trying to drive that reform, surely residents would look at that and say what on Earth is going on?"
'I voted to reinstate to move on'
Councillor Nicole Jonic, one of five who voted to keep the Pisasale namesakes, defended her decision saying a community engagement report presented to council did not represent the full picture of community sentiment.
The official report used in-person, phone and website feedback of around 500 respondents and found 75 per cent of landholders on Pisasale Drive were in favour of a name change, and responders highest-ranked suggestion was to rename both the bridge and drive traditional Indigenous names.
However, Ms Jonic presented an alternative report to council yesterday that included thousands of social media comments – from council and local media pages.
"The original report that I had, and that I circulated had a total of 6,968 community contributions received. And when you compare that to the report that was tabled yesterday, the tabled report had only 528," she said.
"So 75 per cent of the community who gave feedback in the community engagement was disregarded in the report that was tabled."
When asked whether she supported renaming a bridge after a convicted sex offender, Ms Jonic said she acted for transparency.
"I voted to reinstate to move on."
Council to pay to put name back on bridge
In December Ms Harding moved a mayoral minute to remove Pisasale's name from the council assets.
It was supported by six councillors, however Mr Tully, Ms Jonic and fellow councillor Sheila Ireland abstained.
But at yesterday's meeting two councillors changed their vote, to keep the name.
"The candidates were asked during the election campaign if they would change it, six of the councillors did confirm that they would change it," Ms Harding said.
"Two of them changed their mind.
"So it is very disappointing that election commitments were not kept."
Ms Harding said after the December decision, council removed the signage and now would have to pay to have it reinstalled.
"We're a council that will have to spend money and put back on the name of someone who's been convicted of sexual assault."
'Bad timing'
Julie Sarkozi from Women's Legal Service Queensland said it was concerning the decision was made the same week as a coroner handed down findings into the domestic violence deaths of Hannah Clarke and her children, and Dorren Langham.
She urged the council to review the decision.
"It flies in the face of what women and survivors of sexual violence have been arguing for for years.
"It actually sends a clear message to all of the victims, which is 'we don't believe you and we don't value what's happened to you'."
