A southern Queensland councillor who took several non-consensual photos of a woman while she was exercising at the gym has been reprimanded for misconduct.
Lockyer Valley Regional Councillor Brett Qualischefski was referred to the Councillor Conduct Tribunal in 2022 over the incidents at the Lockyer Valley Sports and Aquatic Centre in Gatton.
Details of the hearing and decision were made public this week.
Mr Qualischefski told the tribunal he accepted he took a photo of the complainant while she was finishing using a leg press machine in March 2021.
He again took a photo of the woman while at the gym five days later and on a separate occasion he "looked at her groin" while she was doing hip thrusts.
The complainant told the tribunal Mr Qualischefski's conduct made her uncomfortable about leaving the gym on her own at night and she "felt sick in the stomach and anxious" when she saw the councillor's car in the car park.
The matter was also referred to police, who issued Mr Qualischefski with a caution.
The tribunal reprimanded the councillor for his conduct, ordered him to undergo counselling and to reimburse the council $2,000 for costs incurred.
It found he "conducted himself in a manner that was unacceptable and inappropriate conduct by any adult person and particularly by an elected local government councillor".
Lockyer Valley Mayor Tanya Milligan said the matter had been a dark cloud hanging over the community.
She said she was also disappointed with how long it had taken to be finalised.
"I don't really understand why the process then took so long ... I think that it should have been finalised a lot earlier than what it was," Cr Milligan said.
Cr Milligan said she hoped Mr Qualischefski would reflect on his behaviour and it was up to him to decide whether he would stay in the role.
"We do have an election in March next year," she said.
"Ultimately, it is up to the councillor — I would say if it was me, I would have stood down two years ago."
Mr Qualischefski told the ABC "he did not have the words" for how remorseful he was.
"I admitted I took two photos and sent them. I admitted that the moment the police officers spoke to me," he said.
"If I could say to the lady how regretful and how sorry I am, I never meant any of that with malice intention.
"I am so so sorry that there was hurt and pain, not only for her, but my community, my colleagues, my family."
He said he wanted to "try to rebuild" the trust that he "breached" with the community.
"I want to just try and continue doing that and take it day by day," he said.
"This role is not a job for me, it's what I absolutely love doing, helping people and what I do for the community.
"At the moment it's not something that I want to walk away from.
"My stupid stupid mistake I made. If I could go back and change it and make sure it never have happened, I wish I could."
