Tea Tree Gully Council mayor Kevin Knight slams council colleagues after being sidelined from citizenship ceremonies
The Tea Tree Gully mayor who gave his chief executive a “two-fingered salute” for asking him to apologise to a female staff member has angrily hit out at council colleagues after being stripped of some duties.
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Besieged Tea Tree Gully Mayor Kevin Knight has taken aim at two elected members after the council replaced him as the presiding officer at citizenship ceremonies.
Elected members voted 11-1 at Tuesday night’s council meeting for Deputy Mayor Damian Wyld to now oversee ceremonies.
Councillors said Mr Knight had lost “the confidence of the chamber” since a sexual harassment complaint was upheld against him late last year.
Chief executive officer John Moyle previously told the council that Mr Knight gave him a “two-fingered salute” when he asked him to apologise to a female staff member he tapped on the backside with rolled-up paper.
A senior female manager has taken leave and sought legal advice over a separate incident allegedly involving Mr Knight while another female staff member also has consulted a lawyer.
Last night, Mr Knight singled out two of his critics – Cr Rob Unger and Cr Peter Field – in a fierce defence of his character.
Saying it was “time to fight back” and elected members were on “dangerous ground”, Mr Knight rubbished the investigation into the October 2 incident at the Modbury civic centre.
“All I have been found guilty of so far is touching somebody with a piece of paper,” he said.
“That is all. Nothing more. There was no sexual intent, there was no sexual harassment.
“Do what you will tonight but you’re in dangerous territory. If you think I’m going to let 35 years … of committed, dedicated, honest, ethical commitment to my community be torpedoed by two councillors (Cr Unger and Cr Field) ... think again.
“I think it’s time I fought back.”
However, Cr Field said the council was merely upholding a resolution on March 3. It made Cr Wyld the council’s principal spokesperson and official delegate at certain events where council staff would be in attendance.
The developments come as Mr Knight defends a defamation action brought against him by a former councillor who contested the mayoralty at the 2018 local government elections.
Paul Barbaro is seeking $30,000 in damages, a public apology and retraction, with the matter — which already has cost council $23,000 in legal fees — due to return to court in June.
Mr Knight has been under pressure since he shouted at Mr Barbaro during a council meeting in September, 2018, calling him a “bloody idiot” and repeatedly telling him to sit down in front of a packed public gallery at the Modbury civic centre.
A $10,000 investigation by an Adelaide law firm Minter Ellison found Mr Knight had breached the council’s code of conduct, prompting Mr Barbaro – who lost his position at the November 2018 elections – to launch his defamation action.
A colleague of the female staff member tapped on the bottom then lodged a complaint against Mr Knight that he had behaved inappropriately towards her, which was upheld after another investigation which cost $16,000.
Mr Knight, who was locked out of the council’s administration section and stepped down from public duties while the complaint was investigated, was ordered to undertake sexual harassment training and issue a public apology.
A council meeting in March was told Mr Knight was approached by Mr Moyle at a cafe within the civic centre last October and asked if he would apologise to the female staff member.
“I was greeted with a two-fingered salute and some words that followed,” Mr Moyle said.
When asked by Cr Peter Field if that action could be interpreted as Mr Knight telling him to “f--- off”, Mr Moyle said: “That would be my loose interpretation.”
“I don’t think those exact words were used in that format, but that was what was implied,” he said.
“I certainly took that an apology wasn’t forthcoming … that was my reading of it.”
Mr Knight eventually provided a written apology to the staff member later that month.
It is understood Mr Knight since has lost the support of most of his 12 councillors, with some drafting a motion calling on him to stop speaking publicly on behalf of the council.
If approved, elected members would ask Mr Knight to “refrain from speaking to any media outlet” on behalf of the council and to direct all media inquiries to the council’s principal spokesman, deputy mayor Damian Wyld.
Mr Knight, who only attended three public events last month compared to dozens before the sexual harassment complaint was lodged, was stripped of the spokesman responsibility when the complaint was upheld.
The motion would also request Mr Moyle and Cr Wyld to write to all Adelaide media outlets informing them that Mr Knight is no longer the principal spokesperson and not to seek comment from him.
Mr Knight told The Messenger he was unable to discuss the alleged incident with Mr Moyle.
He said he was not aware of any complaints against him by other staff members and the council could not stop him talking to the media.
“As long as I state these are my thoughts and I’m not speaking on behalf of the council,” Mr Knight said.