Kevin Knight completes sexual harassment training requested in 2020

Just one day before his shock election nomination, a controversial mayor finally did something his council had been asking of him for two-and-a-half years.

A sensational turn has seen a mayor accused of sexual harassment undergo training he opted against for two-and-a-half-years despite being asked to undertake it to ensure his ongoing position.

An email circulated to the Tea Tree Gully Council explained incumbent mayor Kevin Knight had “attended Sexual Harassment Training” on September 5.

The timing of the training coincided with a surprise bid by Mr Knight to again contest the mayoral elections and came amid an Ombudsman investigation into him.

It was speculated Mr Knight may fade away from the role given a term he personally described as “three years of hell”, and one plagued by controversy leading to the council moving four motions of no confidence in him.

The email said the training had been requested by council resolution on March 24, 2020.

Incumbent Tea Tree Gully Mayor Kevin Knight at the Tea Tree Gully council chambers. Picture: Mark Brake

The training request followed a bombshell investigation into Mr Knight’s conduct which alleged he hit a female staff member on the bottom with rolled up papers.

Thirty-one code of conduct breaches were eventually substantiated.

Speaking to The Messenger, Mr Knight maintained his completion of the sexual harassment training was “in no way an admission of the allegations against him”.

“The training was a one hour online course and these things are always interesting,” he said.

“It gave me a chance to have a good chat with the lawyer conducting the course.”

Mr Knight said he believed the council pushed for him to do the training outside of a sexual harassment legal report undertaken by law firm Norman Waterhouse and released to council on March 10, 2020.

“I believe this was imposed on me by council after they had been given transcripts of interviews between the HR manager and several staff including the former chief executive,” he said.

“I did lodge a complaint against the former chief executive about his recollection of events that is vastly different to mine, but council resolved not to investigate him and I have no idea why.”

Mr Knight has strenuously contested the allegations and findings.

Council chief executive Ryan McMahon was contacted for comment but cited caretaker provisions as the reason for not providing one.