Sean Dillon (politician)

Sean Dillon
MP
Member of the Legislative Assembly of Queensland for Gregory
Incumbent
Assumed office
26 October 2024
Preceded byLachlan Millar
Mayor of Barcaldine Region
In office
28 March 2020 – 16 March 2024
Preceded byRob Chandler
Succeeded byRob Chandler
Councillor of the
Barcaldine Regional Council
In office
19 March 2016 – 16 March 2024
Personal details
Political partyLiberal National
ProfessionPolitician

Sean Dillon is an Australian politician who serves as the member for Gregory in the Legislative Assembly of Queensland. Prior to entering the state parliament, he was the mayor of the Barcaldine Regional Council in central western Queensland.

Political career

In 2016, Dillon was elected to the Barcaldine Regional Council as a councillor.[1]

In 2020, Dillon defeated long-time incumbent mayor Rob Chandler for the mayoralty of Barcaldine Regional Council in a close election.[2][3] Upon his victory, Dillon cited his platform of "increased consultation" and "a new approach to water rates" as reasons for his victory.[2] As mayor, he announced plans for a high-voltage transmission line to connect Barcaldine to the national power grid, as part of the Barcaldine Renewable Energy Zone proposal.[4]

After criticising the feasibility of the COVID-19 vaccine rollout in Barcaldine based on the information provided to him in a council meeting, the Office of the Independent Assessor (OIA), an independent statutory body which investigates conduct complaints about Queensland local government councillors, announced an investigation into him.[5] In response Dillon strongly criticised the OIA, labelling the investigation against him "farcical," and called for a parliamentary inquiry into its powers.[6] These sentiments were echoed by Campbell Newman and Jack Dempsey.[7] In February 2022, the complaint was dismissed by the OIA.[8] The OIA blamed the investigation on Dillon having received "incorrect information" from council staff, which Dillon rejected as the OIA having "scapegoated" council employees "for the OIA's administrative incompetence and legal deficiency."[9] In 2023, the Palaszczuk government reduced the scope of the OIA.[10]

In December 2023, it was reported in Queensland Country Life that Dillon was retiring at the next Barcaldine Regional Council election in order to seek selection as a Liberal National Party candidate in the Legislative Assembly seat of Gregory, where incumbent Lachlan Millar was retiring. Dillon defeated Nicole Heslin, Millar's Longreach electorate office manager; Nicole Bond, an ABC Radio employee in Longreach; and Joe Burns, a councillor of the Central Highlands Regional Council for the preselection.[11][12]

Personal life

Dillon enjoys campdrafting, and was as of 2023 a vice-president of the Australian Campdrafting Association.[13][14]

References

  1. ^ Electoral Commission of Queensland (19 March 2016). "2016 Barcaldine Regional Council - Councillor Election - Election Summary". Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  2. ^ a b Gall, Sally (14 April 2020). "New mayors at Barcaldine, Longreach, Barcoo, Diamantina shires". Queensland Country Life.
  3. ^ Electoral Commission of Queensland (28 March 2020). "Barcaldine Regional Mayor". 2020 Local Government Elections. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  4. ^ Nakamura, Grace (27 November 2023). "Hughenden-Biloela power line proposed to connect western Queensland to the national electricity grid". ABC News. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  5. ^ Marszalek, Jessica; Innes, Natasha (20 October 2021). "Mayor under investigation after criticising Qld vaccine rollout". The Courier-Mail. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  6. ^ McKenna, Kate (21 October 2021). "Barcaldine Mayor Sean Dillon says probe into alleged misconduct 'farcical'". ABC News. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  7. ^ McCormack, Madura; Cameron, Domanii; Rosel, Rachael (20 October 2021). "Mayor calls for parliamentary inquiry as Premier labels OIA probe as 'storm in a teacup'". The Courier-Mail. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  8. ^ Pengilley, Victoria (16 February 2022). "Misconduct complaint against Queensland mayor Sean Dillon dismissed". ABC News. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  9. ^ Cameron, Domanii (23 March 2022). "Barcaldine Mayor Sean Dillon accuses Office of Independent Assessor of 'unprofessional and administrative failing'". The Courier-Mail. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  10. ^ Johnson, Hayden (31 October 2023). "Office of the Independent Assessor ordered to stay out of Qld councillors' private business". The Courier-Mail. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  11. ^ Gall, Sally (21 December 2023). "Four LNP Gregory candidates forced to wait for pre-selection". Queensland Country Life. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  12. ^ Gall, Sally (29 February 2024). "LNP candidate for Gregory finally chosen". Queensland Country Life. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  13. ^ Burton, Lydia (23 June 2016). "Drought and 'non-traditional' following helps grow campdrafting". ABC News. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  14. ^ Walker, Helen (11 April 2023). "Campdrafting community accepts new changes and moves on with decision making". Queensland Country Life. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
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