Burnside councillor and military man Lance Bagster reported to police for allegedly making threats
BURNSIDE Council staff have reported the conduct of an elected member and military man to police for allegedly making threats against a senior administrative executive.
THE boss of Burnside Council has taken the extraordinary step of outlawing his staff from attending fortnightly meetings – because he fears for their safety.
Chief executive Paul Deb last week sent an email to employees telling then he had a “duty of care” to protect them from the alleged antics of Burnswide Ward councillor Lance Bagster.
“I am currently seeking advice from relevant authorities and reserve my right to invoke any further protocols regarding Cr Bagster to protect all staff that I have responsibility for,” Mr Deb wrote.
Mr Deb also instructed his staff to have no “face-to-face” contact with Mr Bagster, an engineering and logistics manager at Department of Defence of Australia.
But Mr Bagster hit back, exclusively telling The Advertiser he is the victim of a smear campaign and has been accused of “horrendous things that I haven’t done.”
The Advertiser understands corporate services manager Martin Cooper had reported Mr Bagster to SafeWork SA on Thursday over allegations of threatening behaviour.
Mr Cooper’s report followed an email exchange with ex-army pilot Mr Bagster, who had referred to the movie, The Revenant.
Mr Deb said: “Cr Bagster has advised, in writing, that he has a ‘target list’. He has also made four direct references to the film, The Revenant, which is an R-rated film ‘for strong frontier combat and violence including gory images’.”
Mr Deb, who is being pursued for defamation by Mr Bagster and was found by an independent inquiry to have breached two codes of conduct in his deals with the councillor last year, has denied he has a conflict of interest.
But Mr Bagster yesterday categorically denied the claims against him, saying: “This is all part of ongoing campaign of accusing me of horrendous things that I haven’t done.”
In a exclusive interview, Mr Bagster added: “I’ve been wronged by Paul Deb and I’m only looking for justice in my valid claims against him.
“I only mentioned The Revenant because if you doubt my determination to seek justice, look at that DiCaprio in that movie.”
Mr Bagster first denied and then accepted he had talked about a “target list” in dealings with Mr Cooper including an email stating “Please be assured that you (personally) are not on my ‘target list’.”.
“Look, I’m a military guy and it’s simply a ridiculous interpretation of my language. I think he’s been goaded into that interpretation,” Mr Bagster added.
“He’s (Mr Cooper) doing a difficult job and I appreciate his position. I have made it plain the only target of my attentions is Mr Deb.
“I want to be supported to do work for the good of the community and not have to fight these petty little battles.”
Council has previously employed an HR specialist to mediate matters between Mr Deb and Mr Bagster that first erupted over a series of written communications in December.
In that exchange, Mr Deb slammed Mr Bagster and questioned his mental state, asking if he was “on your meds now?”
“Stop bullying and harassing me publically (sic),” he added.
Cr Bagster, a committee man for the sub-branch of the Adelaide RSL, requested an apology and “a change in attitude” from Mr Deb.
In February, a special counsel for a city law firm found Mr Deb – Burnside chief for more than six years – breached the code of conduct on two counts.