Playford councillor in hot water over wearing Liberal Party T-shirt to Central District football match

AN ADELAIDE mayor has given a councillor a dressing down for wearing a Liberal Party T-shirt to a local footy match.

Playford Councillor Denis Davey with Mayor Glenn Docherty.

A PLAYFORD councillor has come under fire from some colleagues for wearing a Liberal Party T-shirt to a local footy match.

Cr Denis Davey last week told a council meeting Mayor Glenn Docherty phoned him and asked him to remove his T-shirt supporting Wakefield Liberal candidate Tom Zorich, which he did.

It was a blow for party solidarity as Mr Docherty is the Liberal candidate in the state seat of Newland.

The incident happened during afternoon tea in the council's box at Elizabeth Oval during last month's federal election campaign.

Cr Davey said he had a right to display his political affiliation.

"I went to a football match," Cr Davey told the council meeting.

"A football game is public and I did so as a member of the public.

"A person in public can't be told how to dress."

Mr Docherty refused to comment on the incident, saying it was related to a code of conduct complaint.

The council has repeatedly refused to release any details on the nature of the complaint and those involved in it.

The matter has prompted the council to ask the Local Government Association for guidelines on councillors promoting political parties while on council business.

Cr Max O'Rielly, who pushed for the guidelines, said he was contacted by residents concerned about the council's political affiliation after they saw Cr Davey in his T-shirt.

"About four or five people asked me if the council was supporting Tom Zorich and I said 'no'," Cr O'Rielly said.

Cr Marilyn Baker, who was at the match, supported the call for clearer guidelines and said she was "embarrassed" by Cr Davey's decision to wear the T-shirt to an official council function.

Cr Michael Joy said it was not a good look "to have council members running around in political attire".

Councillors Geoff Boundy and Nick Cava said the council should not set policy about dress standards or councillors declaring party political support.