Cape York Land Council chief executive officer Dion Creek (left) has been sacked by the board with “immediate effect” after he was arrested and refused bail on 12 August in relation to 15 domestic violence-related charges, including four counts of assault occasioning bodily harm. Photo: Cape York Land Council.
The Cape York Land Council has sensationally terminated the employment of its chief executive officer after he was arrested and charged with 15 serious domestic violence offences last week.
Dion Creek was refused bail when he appeared in the Cairns Magistrates Court on 12 August on the charges, which Cape York Weekly understands relate to alleged offences over the past few years.
Mr Creek is charged with four counts of assault occasioning bodily harm aggravated by domestic violence, one count of unlawful stalking aggravated by domestic violence, one count of common assault aggravated by domestic violence, and nine counts of contravene a domestic violence order.
In 2022, Mr Creek became the youngest CEO of the CYLC and followed in the trailblazing footsteps of his mother, who was appointed as the organisation’s first female CEO in 1997.
Following a crisis meeting on 15 August, the CYLC board said in a statement it had sacked Mr Creek “with immediate effect”.
“The board of the Cape York Land Council, at its meeting held on [15 August] 2024, terminates the tenure of Dion Creek as chief executive officer with immediate effect,” the board said in the statement.
“Mr Creek’s tenure is terminated due to the serious nature of charges he is facing.
“The board expressed concern for the welfare of the victims of domestic violence.
“The board expressed its unequivocal support for State and Federal Government policies to stamp out domestic and family violence.
“The Cape York Land Council adopts a zero tolerance approach, nor does it condone such behaviour.”
Mr Creek has not been found guilty on any of the 15 charges.
He is likely to remain behind bars for at least the next two months following the denial of his bail application.
The State Government reacted swiftly to Mr Creek’s arrest, with Minister for Health, Mental Health and Ambulance Services Shannon Fentiman immediately suspending him from the Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service board, to which he was appointed in March 2024.
Mr Creek’s case will return to court on 11 October for a committal mention.
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