Ipswich councillors hold emotional final meeting

Ipswich councillors have had an emotional final meeting ahead of their expected sacking tomorrow.

None of the remaining ten are facing any corruption allegations and several broke down and sobbed during their speeches as they thanked friends, families and staff.

Councillor Sheila Ireland struggled to get the words out while trying to thank her husband Chris, while Councillor Kerry Silver cried as she thanked her staff for their assistance.

There were also moments of defiance, with Councillor David Palhke declaring he had been “denied natural justice” after successfully winning eight elections and being cleared by the Crime and Corruption Commission.

Yet despite the emotion, all legal and political attempts by the councillors to keep their jobs have failed, and the legislation to sack them will pass with bi-partisan support.

A government appointed administrator will replace them and Ipswich ratepayers won’t have local representatives until the next election in March, 2020.