Redlands Mayor Jos Mitchell faces removal after sick leave rejection

Redlands Mayor Jos Mitchell faces potential removal from office after councillors voted to reject her extended medical leave. Mitchell has been on medical leave since May, following a period where she was hospitalized after collapsing at work.

Under Queensland law, a mayor’s seat is vacated if they miss two or more consecutive general meetings over a two-month period. While Mitchell has missed two meetings, the Department of Local Government indicates she cannot lose her seat until the next scheduled meeting. If removed, she would be the first mayor in Queensland to be ousted in this manner.

Mitchell, elected in 2024, has been involved in a divided council and has faced more than 50 conduct complaints, which she describes as politically motivated. The council’s bureaucratic arm previously suggested in a state parliamentary inquiry that any councillor on extended leave should undergo investigation.