Queensland premier 'shocked' by revelation of ex-mayor's overseas spending

Queensland's premier says she is shocked by findings of excessive overseas spending by former Ipswich mayor Paul Pisasale and a number of his senior colleagues.

An investigation by 9News revealed Pisasale, who is currently serving a jail sentence for corruption, fraud and sexual assault, had spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on overseas study trips, which included lavish hotel stays, helicopter trips and tours on private jets.

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Among the executives found to have participated in the overseas tours – run under council-established company Ipswich City Properties – is current councillor and former deputy mayor Paul Tully, who is facing escalating pressure to step down.

Fellow company directors and council executives Carl Wulff and Jim Lindsay also took part in the 2012 trips through Europe and the United States, which racked up a publicly funded bill of over $250,000.

"I am absolutely alarmed by those revelations and I'm quite sure that the people of Ipswich will be able to have their say on those matters," Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said.

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The premier did not suggest further action would be taken to remove Tully, who was re-elected in Ipswich City Council in 2020.

"People are democratically elected, the public has the opportunity to vote them in, to keep them in, to vote them out," Palaszczuk said.

Opposition Leader David Crisafulli called for Tully's resignation.

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"Paul Tully's position is untenable. He should resign from council," he said.

Tully is yet to respond to specific questions by 9News over his involvement in the trips.