The ‘unresolved questions’ over ICAC raid at Parramatta Council staff offices

Councillors in the City of Parramatta are seeking more information and independent legal advice about a raid conducted by the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) in its staff offices last month.

The Herald three weeks ago revealed the powerful anti-corruption body raided the staff offices of the council hours before a council meeting and seized the mobile phones of several senior staff.

City of Parramatta independent councillor Kellie Darley is demanding information.Credit: Sitthixay Ditthavong

Councillors were not informed about the raid before the story was published, and at multiple times since have been told the matter cannot be discussed, which is a standard procedure for matters involving the ICAC.

Councillors are pushing the council to address the matter before next Monday’s meeting. Independent councillor Kellie Darley will propose at the meeting that the council acknowledge community concerns over the “entry” to the offices, and Liberal councillor Steven Issa has submitted a question on notice about risk and reputational exposure.

“There’s not a lot that the councillors actually know, which is of concern,” Darley said. “It makes it very difficult for us to address the concerns of the community. There’s been a lot of speculation … it’s important we address that at the council meeting.”

According to Darley’s notice of motion, “a number of questions and requests for information submitted by councillors remain unresolved, including but not limited to access to [the] council’s business continuity plan and crisis management/communications plan”.

Darley is seeking the council’s support for Liberal Lord Mayor Martin Zaiter and Labor Deputy Lord Mayor Cameron Maclean to obtain independent legal advice on the matter and to arrange a briefing for councillors on their rights and responsibilities.

“At the moment we are being kept in the dark,” Darley said. “And I don’t think that’s acceptable. I’ve heard different things. I’ve heard we can know, I’ve been told we can’t, so that’s why I want to hear it from lawyers who are experts in this space.

“I imagine a number of councillors would prefer that this wasn’t on the agenda, but ICAC visiting council is of significant concern. It’s a serious matter and we need to respond appropriately.”

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Darley alleged that council staff had requested she adjust the title of her motion from “Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC)” because it was “inflammatory”. “I find that really bizarre, and frankly, ridiculous.”

A private councillor briefing was due to be held on Monday evening, according to several council sources not authorised to speak publicly. It was expected that legal advice would be provided to councillors.

Meanwhile, Issa, who was elected last September after serving on earlier terms of council, is seeking access to the documents about the council’s governance. Given councillors’ “governance role, and our obligation to manage risk exposure, reputational exposure, and the operational performance”, Issa has asked for copies of the council’s business continuity plan and critical roles and back-fill arrangements, among other plans.

Issa asked questions of the council in the days after the raid. But in his question on notice, he said: “When will all questions in the email … be answered?”

The council is yet to respond to the motion – staff responses to the motion and questions will be made public this week – but it will increase pressure on the council to address the circumstances surrounding the raid or any potential investigation the agency is conducting, after it locked down its communications in the days after the incident.

This masthead revealed the numerous attempts to contact the council for comment, which included contacting a senior manager and the media department, the main phone line and waiting outside the council offices.

The one communication that the council sent out to all staff in the days after the story was published alleged staff were feeling “harassed and unsafe in the workplace” because of the conduct of journalists.

“Please be aware that several staff members have raised concerns that journalists have contacted them via social media or in-person around the 9 Wentworth Street office seeking comments about [the] council,” a manager wrote in an email to council staff.

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“We recognise that this has made staff feel harassed and unsafe in the workplace, and felt it was important to remind you of the policies and procedures we have to support you.”

The email reminded staff of the council’s media policy and that they could reach out to leaders if they were “ever feeling unsafe in the workplace”.

Zaiter declined to comment.

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