ORDINARY MEETING MINUTES 22 JANUARY 2026 · Attachment 1 - 2026-01-22 Ordinary Meeting Minutes

ORDINARY MEETING MINUTES                                                         22 JANUARY 2026


8.4   PAT SPICER
      QUESTION 1
      While there were restrictions on releasing information to the public regarding the loss or $2.4
      million through fraud in December 2024, were all staff in the financial department fully briefed
      on the contents of the Queensland Audit Office report immediately after the report was
      received as it explicitly warned about the fraud risk in "super master file" data changes and
      provided a case study of a recent council loss through such data changes being made to
      supplier bank account details?

      Response provided by Acting Director Corporate Services Margaret Gatt
      Firstly, I’d like to confirm that whilst the initial loss was $2.3M, through recovery by the bank
      and our insurers, the current figure is $1.7M. This is still a substantial amount and Council
      does not take this lightly. We are making a range of changes and additions to prevent this
      happening again.

      Council was notified by QAO in March 2024 of the fraud event that targeted Gold Coast
      Council prior to the calculated attack on Noosa Council.

      Also as documented in our previous reports to the Audit and Risk committee and Council, the
      recommendations from the 2025 QAO Noosa Shire Council Interim Audit Report have been
      implemented or substantially progressed. Specifically;

             Council has met all reporting obligations
             Council has conducted regular mandatory cyber-fraud training to better equip our staff
              for such activities
             Council has strengthened processes for updating, maintaining and securing the
              vendor credit Masterfile including the development of a Vendor Maintenance Policy
             Council is in the process of establishing an independent, risk-based financial
              accountability program to review and audit the accuracy and proper use of financial
              information
             Council has substantially progressed the implementation of third-party payment
              protection software (EFTsure) to validate banking information

      QUESTION 2
      Why is Noosa Council taking on the state responsibility of providing housing by spending
      millions above grants to remediate and install all infrastructure for housing at 64 Lake
      Macdonald Drive Cooroy as well as entering into a contract with Coast2Bay to build 26 units
      when it is a fact that this site does not meet the housing strategy actions of ready access to
      services, transport and proximity to work?

      Response provided by Director Strategic Planning & Environment Kim Rawlings
      The housing crisis currently gripping Australia is one that neither the State or Federal
      governments are going to be able to solve alone in a short time. Rather than sitting back and
      expecting the problem to be solved by other levels of government, Noosa Council along with
      many other Local Governments has chosen to be part of the solution. Despite the belief by
      some that this is not a Local Government responsibility, Local governments have a
      responsibility to ensure their communities are places people want to live and families can
      thrive, with amenities and services critical to people’s livelihoods. Local Governments are
      specifically required to plan for the needs of its community under the Local Government Act,
      this could legitimately include land use and development outcomes to support housing. Many
      Councils across Australia are increasingly exploring how they can support affordable housing
      in response to local needs including Sunshine Coast and Moreton Bay amongst others.
      Councils also have a critical role in enabling housing outcomes through planning, servicing
      and often land.