Investigation into Gawler Council chief Henry Inat bulling allegations likely to go ahead
Gawler Council chief executive Henry Inat faces a formal inquiry into claims staff feel bullied by him after councillors forced a special meeting to discuss the matter on Monday night.
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Gawler Council chief executive Henry Inat faces a formal inquiry into claims staff feel bullied by him after councillors forced a special meeting to discuss the matter on Monday night.
The meeting, called by councillors Nathan Shanks, Paul Little and Cody Davis, came after Mayor Karen Redman refused to let the matter be discussed without notice at last week’s council meeting.
Council staff have recommended the matter be discussed behind closed doors because it relates to Mr Inat’s “personal affairs” – but it is understood a bloc of six councillors will push for it to be debated publicly and support the investigation.
A recent union survey found staff felt “worthless”, “neglected”, “disrespected”, “degraded”, “intimidated” and “pushed up against a wall” by Mr Inat.
Multiple staff members said they felt bullied by him.
Mr Inat has denied the allegations and suggested the survey was a “union ploy”.
Councillors will be asked to approve a “formal and independent third party investigation” into the “very serious allegations”.
Cr Ian Tooley tried to propose the inquiry at a special council meeting on Monday, July 6, but was blocked by Mayor Karen Redman – which is within her powers.
She instead requested it be discussed at Gawler’s next meeting at the end of the month.
However, a number of councillors have privately expressed concern that would be too long to wait because of the seriousness of the issue.
Councillors will also discuss an ongoing performance review of Mr Inat, triggered after he last year wrote a report requesting his own pay rise, contract extension, and private use of a Toyota Kluger.
Cr Ian Tooley said there were “no grounds” for the possible investigation to be discussed in secret because it was already in the public domain and there was “huge public interest”.
“My view is that if we go into confidence, we should be rightly viewed as breaching the act, being tricky and opaque and the public have every right to ask … why is this secretive,” Cr Tooley said.
Mr Inat has declined to comment.