Tea Tree Gully Mayor Kevin Knight refuses to co-operate with council investigation into his behaviour
Tea Tree Gully Mayor Kevin Knight says he will not co-operate with a council investigation into his behaviour unless it hires a “fresh investigator”.
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Tea Tree Gully Mayor Kevin Knight says he will not co-operate with a council investigation into his behaviour, calling it a “flawed process”.
The council said last month it would investigate “reports” made to the Office for Public Integrity after a referral from ICAC.
However, Mr Knight said he would not co-operate with the investigation, saying a “subset of these allegations” were the subject of an earlier investigation by the council’s preferred law firm, which were reported to the council in March this year.
Mr Knight confirmed those investigations found he had patted a female staffer on the backside with a rolled-up document on October 2 last year in the Modbury civic centre.
He said the legal firm had been appointed by council to investigate “the same allegations and certain others”.
“I have consistently argued that it is wholly inappropriate that this firm be retained to investigate matters in respect of which they have previously made factual findings and recommendations to council,” Mr Knight said.
“I want a fresh investigator appointed who is truly independent and who will give me and others a fair hearing.
“When this happens, I will co-operate fully with that investigator with a view to clearing my name.”
He said his legal letter to the legal firm was “quite clear” that he would not participate in a “flawed process”.
“I have always argued that the investigating firm have a conflict of interest and should not and never have been appointed to this investigation,” he said.
“Likewise I have always been of the opinion that (the firm) should not have accepted this brief.
“They are paid on average $250,000 per year by council for advice on other issues.”
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He said the council’s initial investigation, which found he patted a female staffer on the backside with a rolled-up document, took “far too long”.
“It appears only four people were spoken to and was far from comprehensive given the full nature of the original complaint,” he said.
He also said none of the allegations being investigated by the council related to corruption.
“I want nothing more than the opportunity to respond to these allegations and clear my name,” he said.
A Tea Tree Gully Council spokeswoman said the appointed investigator would be continuing with the investigation.
“The mayor will continue to be provided with the opportunity to participate in the process,” the spokeswoman said.