Former councillor Paul Barbaro receives financial compensation for mayor’s comments at meeting

A former northeast councillor has received an estimated $20,000 compensation for “alleged defamation” from the mayor.

Former Tea Tree Gully councillor Paul Barbaro has received financial compensation for comments made by the mayor at a council meeting. Picture: AAP/Sam Wundke.

A former Tea Tree Gully councillor will receive compensation for alleged defamatory comments made by the mayor at a meeting, an internal council document reveals.

Paul Barbaro’s defamation case against Mayor Kevin Knight was settled in August last year following several hearings in the District Court of South Australia.

Mr Barbaro was to receive “an estimated claim” of $20,000, the document revealed.

The Messenger last year reported Mr Barbaro claimed Mr Knight suggested the Office of Public Integrity should investigate his connection to a Golden Grove resident and a city-based developer at an October 9, 2018 meeting.

Mr Barbaro claimed he had been defamed by the comments and suffered injury to his character, reputation and feelings and they caused anxiety and stress.

Tea Tree Gully Mayor Kevin Knight was sued for defamation by former councillor Paul Barbaro in the District Court of South Australia. Picture: Keryn Stevens

“At the time of (Mr Knight’s comments)… the applicant enjoyed an exemplary reputation as a member of the council and as a disability advocate within the Tea Tree Gully community,” Mr Barbaro submitted in court documents.

“(Mr Knight)... knew that the imputations arising from the publication... thereof were false and published them intending to cause real harm to (Mr Barbaro) as is apparent from the terms used by the respondent.

“At the time of his publication (Mr Knight)… either knew that the imputations conveyed were substantially false or was recklessly indifferent to the truth or falsity of those imputations.”

The internal document reveals Mr Barbaro will be awarded the sum for “alleged defamation based on comments made by Mayor Knight” at the meeting.

“Settlement agreement has been finalised which includes a confidentiality provision,” the document read.

However, the document stated Mr Barbaro would receive the sum with “no apology or admission of liability”.

The sum was to be paid by the Local Government Association’s Mutual Liability Scheme.

Mr Barbaro, Mr Knight, the council and the LGA all declined to comment.