Henry Davis issues concerns notice to Adelaide City councillors Janet Giles and Phil Martin
It comes just weeks after a controversial councillor was threatened with similar action by the Lord Mayor.
City
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Adelaide City councillor Henry Davis has taken legal action against two colleagues, he says defamed him at last week’s public meeting by implying he is a misogynist.
Cr Davis, principal of Henry Lloyd Davis, issued concerns notices to councillors Janet Giles and Phillip Martin on Friday claiming they “seriously defamed” him.
In the concerns notices, Mr Davis claimed both councillors at the July 9 meeting made comments that “constitute an allegation of misogyny” and caused “serious reputational harm”.
It came after Cr Davis posted an Instagram video criticising the council’s committee meeting payment structure, alluding to Cr Giles getting $1500 to chair a meeting when she was absent.
Cr Giles had told the meeting, which was live-streamed, his behaviour was designed to “silence, intimidate and undermine women” on the council.
Cr Martin added: “Why is it that women in this Chamber are constantly under attack … Why is it that women of profile are mocked on social media, and those very, very sites are lit by Councillor Davis?”
In the concerns notices, Mr Davis said given the comment were broadcast live they had been “the subject of widespread discussion and gossip”.
He has requested the councillors make an apology and retraction at next week’s council meeting to avoid further action.
Mr Davis was issued a concerns notice himself last month, by lawyers acting on behalf of Lord Mayor Jane Lomax-Smith, who claimed she was defamed when he called her a “liar”.
Dr Lomax-Smith had requested he apologise and retract his statement at the June 25 council meeting, but he did not attend the meeting.
At the time, he told The Advertiser “she can sue me if she wants to”.
“I’m a lawyer myself and I’d give it a 1 per cent chance,” he said.
Cr Martin and Cr Giles were both contacted for comment.
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