Media response - candidate for Davenport

Published on 29 January 2022

Response to The Advertiser.

• I'm dealing with a complaint from the Liberal Party about an email string concerning Labor's Happy Valley walking trail policy announced on December 28.
  • Did the Mayor ask for council's help (and was it via her personal email, Mayoral email or verbally) to put together Labor's  Happy Valley walking trail policy?
  • Did a staff member attempt to email the Mayor offering council drafting help to the Labor Party but telling her to remove the council logo to hide the fact, accidentally send the offer to the Liberal MP, and then try to retract the email?  
  • After the staff member sent the material instead to the Liberal Party MP for Davenport, did they continue to offer council help to the Labor party, or withdraw from the issue?  
  • What action if any has been taken against the staff member?
  • Who within council authorised the council's acceptance of a $1m funding offer from the Labor Party, which would then trigger a funding commitment from ratepayers?
  • The journalist then asked for a council response to comments from Treasurer Rob Lucas calling for an independent investigation into what extent the mayor is "using and accessing council staff and resources to assist her in her campaign as a Labor candidate".

Comments attributed to a council spokesperson

Council  administration has an apolitical role in the lead up to both the state and federal elections. It is important for all councils to have a constructive relationship with the state government regardless of the political party. As such, council works with MPs and candidates from all political parties in responding to requests for technical and factual information associated with council’s endorsed Advocacy Plan.

The Advocacy Plan outlines priority community projects and policies approved by Council to be used in advocating to all political parties in the lead-up to the election. The request for information about this community trail came from the candidate for Davenport, not from the mayor, and is consistent with other political candidates’ requests for technical and factual information.

We also assist sitting MPs and candidates with technical and factual information should they have a proposal that is not in council’s plan, but which the community has raised with them.

The email containing technical and factual information was inadvertently sent to the Member for Davenport, rather than the candidate for Davenport. This information would be provided to the Member for Davenport if requested.

No offers of funding have been accepted. No one in Council has authorised the council's acceptance of a $1m funding offer from the Labor Party, nor any other proposal from any party, which would then trigger a funding commitment from ratepayers.

Our Advocacy Plan clearly sets out that council is seeking 100 per cent funding for the projects contained in the plan. Once all election commitments have been made, and the election result known, council will engage with the incoming government regarding these projects. Any funding commitment will be considered by Council on its merits and within the council's Long Term Financial Plan.

Council resources are used to benefit the residents of the City of Onkaparinga not individual political candidates. While we understand that the politics will increase from now until the state election, council will continue to maintain its independence for the benefit of its residents. 

For an update on council’s advocacy efforts with all political candidates please read the upcoming Strategic Directions Report at this link. 

It lists all candidates that have been contacted, meetings and a site tour held. I have attached a copy for your easy reading. It is agenda item 7.2.