Adelaide City Council no-show to special meeting after court rules Councillor Jing Li elected through ‘illegal practices’

A special meeting to address the “illegal practices” found in Adelaide City Council’s 2022 election has suffered a major upset.

Adelaide City Councillor Jing Li outside the Court of Disputed Returns. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Brenton Edwards

Adelaide City Council failed to hold their special meeting to address a court ruling which found the 2022 election to be illegal – after councillors were a no-show.

Councillor Henry Davis had successfully applied for the special meeting on Tuesday night to ensure “public confidence” and “financial accountability” following a court ruling which found illegal practices had occurred during the council’s Central Ward in the 2022 election.

However, the meeting did not happen because the minimum required number of councillors did not attend.

Instead of seven – only five attended the meeting.

Those present included the Lord Mayor Jane Lomax-Smith, Henry Davis, Mark Seibentrit, Mary Couros, and Arman Abrahimzadeh.

Adelaide City Council candidate and former Burnside councillor Henry Davis. Picture: Supplied

However, Cr Davis said this failure would not deter him from organising the meeting again.

“We’ve got illegal practices which have occurred in the Central Ward,” he said.

“We as a council need to determine how we’re going to deal with that moving forward for our own sake, as well as for the transparency and honesty we owe to our ratepayers.”

Cr Davis said he intends to arrange a new date for their special meeting as soon as possible.

Former Adelaide City Councillor Alexander Hyde outside the Court of Disputed Returns. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Brenton Edwards

Adelaide City Councillor Jing Li outside the Court of Disputed Returns. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Brenton Edwards

This comes after former councillor Alexander Hyde challenged his loss to councillor Jing Li by 24 votes in the Court of Disputed Returns.

After two years, in early March the court found on the balance of probabilities more than 24 votes had been cast towards councillor Li where illegal practices had affected the result.

Cr Li has not been charged with any criminal offence.

However, the judge determined a number of people working on behalf of Cr Li had been illegally dealing ballot papers in October 2022.

No finding of bribery was made, however a finding was made that persons had dishonestly exercised a vote at an election they were not entitled.

The court matter will resume on Friday, April 4.