Adelaide Councillor Henry Davis refuses to apologise to Lord Mayor Jane Lomax-Smith for calling her a ‘liar’ in a meeting

Controversial Burnside-turned-Adelaide councillor Henry Davis has been at the centre of a tense standoff over comments he made at a meeting earlier this month.

Adelaide City Councillor Henry Davis is refusing to apologise for calling the Lord Mayor Jane Lomax-Smith a “liar” in a past council meeting despite the threat of being sued for defamation.

Lawyers acting on behalf of Dr Lomax-Smith had requested Cr Davis apologise and retract statements made earlier this month at last night’s public council meeting.

Cr Davis did not attend the meeting having injured his back, but told The Advertiser he was not “going to be backing down” and “she can sue me if she wants to”.

“The idea that her lawyers would sue me for defamation … I’m a lawyer myself and I’d give it a one per cent chance,” he said.

“This is not the first time I’ve experienced such tactics.”

Adelaide councillor Henry Davis. Picture: Supplied

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA - NewsWire Photos - MAY 2, 2023: SA Premier Peter Malinauskas, arrives at a media conference announcing a major boost to affordable housing in the Adelaide CBD. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Emma Brasier

Cr Davis was last week issued with a concerns notice by Dr Lomax-Smith’s lawyers after they claimed he “again seriously defamed” their client during the June 11 council meeting.

He called Dr Lomax-Smith a “liar” during a budget debate when she agreed that the Adelaide Economic Development Agency was supportive of a funding cut.

Under the Defamation Act, Cr Davis has 28 days from the issue of the concerns notice to make an offer to make amends regarding his statements.

“This is such a minor issue,” he said.

“I need to be able to speak freely and comment on what happens in the chamber.

“AEDA is extremely important to our city – 80 per cent of ratepayers are business owners.

“Our city is already struggling with cafes and retail precincts shutting down and we have the highest vacancy rates in the nation at 19.3 per cent.

In the concerns notice, it stated Dr Lomax-Smith believed the defamatory imputations were that she is “unworthy of her office” and “not worthy of trust or confidence”.

Dr Lomax-Smith’s lawyers did not comment when contacted by The Advertiser.