Last week, the Queensland government passed sweeping reforms, which included enhanced powers for Local Government Minister Stirling Hinchliffe and the automatic suspension of councillors charged with serious integrity offences, such as bribery, corruption and fraud, with pay.

The laws took effect from 12am on Monday, after Governor Paul de Jersey granted assent to the legislation.

It triggered the immediate suspension of Logan mayor Luke Smith, Logan councillor Stacey McIntosh, Ipswich mayor Andrew Antoniolli, Doomadgee mayor Edric Walden and Hope Vale mayor Greg McLean.

Cr Antoniolli was charged with seven counts of fraud and Cr Smith had refused to stand down while charges of official corruption and perjury were dealt with in court.

On Monday evening, Cr Smith posted to Facebook, saying he was informed of his suspension via a media outlet's Tweet.

"The community should be deeply concerned that their democratically elected representatives can be removed from office while still under the presumption of innocence," he posted.

Cr McIntosh has been charged with stealing, Cr Walden's suspension was triggered by charges of misconduct in public office and forgery and Cr McLean had a charge of fraud.

On Tuesday, Mr Hinchliffe said there was a "bit of a miscommunication" but said it was not something that "should have been of any surprise" to Cr Smith.

“He was advised of the passage of legislation last week, there was communication between the department and the council CEOs of the affected councils to ensure that the affected individuals were advised,” Mr Hinchliffe told ABC Radio Brisbane on Tuesday morning.

“The important thing is that the bills have received the urgent ascent so the government can move quickly with the current situation.

“They had full effect from 12.01am yesterday.”

He said he had not personally spoken to any of the affected councillors.

Mr Hinchliffe said the mayors and councillors were suspended on full pay and were not able to appeal their suspensions.

“The community wants confidence in their local government and they don't want to have a situation where people in those positions make the decision not to stand aside in the circumstances in which they probably should,” he said.

Under the Local Government Act, the deputy mayors in the affected councils will assume the roles and responsibilities of acting mayor.

In Logan City Council, that means Cr Cherie Dalley will become acting mayor.

A suspended councillor is not replaced.

If the charges were thrown out, or the person was found not guilty, the automatic suspension would end.

However, if a councillor is convicted of integrity offences, the new laws mean they will automatically lose their job, and be disqualified from being a councillor for four years, or seven years for a serious integrity offence.

Mr Hinchliffe said the action did not reflect the outcome of the charges which would be dealt with by the courts.

"I have also written to all councillors to ask them to declare if their status is affected under the new provisions," he said.

"These are very new laws, and I will need to carefully consider whether to exercise any of my new powers, based on the facts of each case."

Mr Hinchliffe began moves to appoint an administrator at the Ipswich council and asked councillors why they should not be sacked earlier this month after the crime watchdog charged Cr Antoniolli.

Ipswich councillors have until Thursday to show cause as to why they should not lose their job.

But Mr Hinchliffe now has greater power to sack councillors in Ipswich, should he decide to take that action, rather than waiting for the current show cause period to expire.

He could issue Ipswich councillors with a new show cause notice, of at least seven days.

Mr Hinchliffe told ABC Radio Brisbane that as of Tuesday morning, he had not yet seen any response from Ipswich City Council or any of the councillors.

“I am obliged under law to consider those matters carefully and properly,” he said.