Ian Tooley makes fiery exit from the Gawler Council, excerpts from resignation letter revealed

An outspoken former Gawler councillor has released his resignation letter after the CEO chose not to make it public, complaining of factionalism and intimidation.

Former Gawler councillor Ian Tooley.

Former Gawler councillor, Ian Tooley has released his fiery resignation letter, a month after resigning from his role at the July council meeting.

Ian Tooley was first appointed to council in 2014 before serving as Deputy Mayor for three terms between 2014-2018. This year was Mr Tooley’s seventh continuous year on council.
The former councillor was never far from controversy and was well known for his disagreements with fellow councillors, the Mayor Karen Redman and CEO Henry Inat.

He addressed the council in the public open forum at the council meeting on Tuesday.

“I submitted my letter of resignation for tabling at the July 27 council meeting, and addressed it to the chamber and Gawler community,” he said.

“I wanted to explain, to say thank you, and to say goodbye but Henry Inat refused to make my letter public, claiming legal advice prevented him doing so.

“In my experience this leadership and admin often claims and hides behind ‘legal advice’.”

The former councillor then explained the contents of the letter and why he chose to resign with 18 months left in his term.

Former Town Of Gawler Councillor Ian Tooley. Picture supplied

“I have become totally disillusioned with this council, and with this leadership team and administration, and feel that there is no point in fighting on,” he said.

The letter includes comments about the “toxic and factional” chamber which Mr Tooley said ‘would vote down a motion saying the earth was round, if he moved it’.
He also took aim at the council for not allowing him to take leave while his wife was unwell and vulnerable to Covid-19, and said he felt intimidated and discriminated against at a meeting.

“I took leave after that March meeting and reached out immediately to Mayor Redman and CEO Inat for help, but nothing,” he said.

“However, not once during my 16 weeks of leave did Mayor Redman or CEO Inat ever contact me to offer help, to discuss a way forward, or to check on my welfare.

“I realised that it was pointless carrying on while this current leadership, administration and faction are in charge.

“Rather than continue to fight a losing battle, I’ll devote the next 18 months to encouraging people with vision who care about our town to run at the 2022 elections in order to refresh and renew our council.”

The Town of Gawler, CEO Henry Inat and Mayor Karen Redman were all contacted about Mr Tooley’s resignation speech and letter but declined to comment.

READ EXCERPTS FROM IAN TOOLEY’S RESIGNATION LETTER BELOW:

“I have become totally disillusioned with this council, and with this leadership team and administration, and feel that there is no point in fighting on.”

“The bias, discrimination, physical intimidation, and misuse of rules and abuse of power that I experienced at the March 23, 2021 council meeting, and the subsequent fallout, has turned out to be the final straw for me … I’m done!”

“My relationship between the CEO, Mayor and myself, and my ability to do my job in the chamber, has steadily deteriorated since I returned from North America in mid-2019, and this situation has significantly worsened since my wife barely clung to life while in a coma in ICU for two weeks in late 2019.

“The nail in the coffin for me was when this council refused to grant me compassionate leave of absence in order to keep my wife safe from Covid back in March 2020.

“My wife Penny had just spent two weeks in ICU fighting for life, in a coma and on a respirator, suffering acute pneumonia, sepsis and organ failure, a situation made worse by her compromised immune system.

“When Covid came along a few months later, my wife’s doctor directed us both to totally self isolate, from early March 2020, advising that catching Covid would be a death sentence for Penny.

“As council was still insisting on face-to-face meetings, and had not set up zoom technology, I pleaded with council to grant me compassionate leave from the March 2020 meeting but council refused, having been advised by Mayor Redman that a refusal to grant me leave would be a trigger for council to invoke Regulation 54 and to set in motion a way to throw me off council.

“It appears that I’m the first and only councillor in the 150+ year history of Gawler Council to ever be denied leave … and mine was compassionate Covid related leave requested on doctors advice.

“I have had considerable time to reflect over the last 4 months, while on leave, and I am deeply disillusioned, as I have come to realise that continuing as an elected member is pointless!

“My disillusionment deepened further when CEO Inat sought to have his $270,000 salary increased, contract extended, and luxury car provided.”

“The chamber is toxic and I don’t have the numbers.

“I’m sorry to let down those who voted for me … I’m sorry to let you down.

“It’s best that I step down, stop fighting it, and let this chamber get on with what it wants to do in the way it wants to do it.

“I’ll put my efforts over the next 18 months into trying to encourage people with a real love and vision for our town to run for council in 2022 – people willing to listen and to represent the views of the community; people willing to put community first and to put self interest and personal agenda last; people who can refresh this council with fresh ideas; and people committed to good policy making and to good governance.

“Huge thanks to the Gawler community and to those who have supported me … thank you and goodbye.”