Onkaparinga councillors sanction Cr Alayna de Graaf after damning report on her “bullying” emails

An Onkaparinga councillor, censured in a damning 332-report has been banned from emailing other councillors, despite her insistence that she was acting for ratepayers.

An Onkaparinga councillor has been banned from emailing staff, instead being ordered to only contact her council’s chief executive.

Elected members imposed the sanction against Alayna de Graaf, following an inquiry which found she had “bullied and harassed” Onkaparinga mayor Erin Thompson, other elected members and senior managers.

The investigation followed a code of conduct complaint lodged by Cr William Jamieson, who provided dozens of emails sent by Cr de Graaf since she was elected in November, 2018.

In a 332-page report, law firm Kelledy Jones recommended Cr de Graaf should be censured and ordered to make a public apology for “any distress or offence caused to elected members, the mayor and employees by her communications”.

Deputy mayor Simon McMahon also obtained support for a motion which instructed Cr de Graaf to undertake training on “effective email communication” and preventing “bullying and harassment”.

Councillors restricted Cr de Graff to only emailing chief executive Scott Ashby or going through a centralised portal for elected members. They removed her from a committee monitoring his performance.

Mr McMahon said Cr de Graaf had breached the trust installed in her by ratepayers.

“Elected members cannot and should not expect to be above scrutiny,” he said.

Cr McMahon said Onkaparinga Council had been working “so hard to change the culture of the past and we have achieved positive reforms”.

“I hope that this finding will help Cr de Graaf reflect on her behaviour so she can help deliver on the commitment we have all made to deliver positive outcomes for our community,” he said.

Comment has been sought from Cr de Graaf.

Kelledy Jones found Cr de Graaf had sent numerous emails to Mayor Erin Thompson, council managers and councillors since she was elected in November 2018.

The emails covered many issues, ranging from consultation with Aboriginal people over a coastal boardwalk to the alleged suicide of a council staff member.

Erin Thompson, mayor of Onkaparinga Council. Picture: Dean Martin

Kelledy Jones said it had interviewed numerous people “on the basis that their identity remain confidential for the purposes of the investigation”.

“This was because they held fears of reprisal from Cr de Graaf,” it said.

Kelledy Jones said it found that when Cr de Graaf “has a difference of opinion” she threatened to lay complaints against other councillors to “bully, intimidate and silence the democratic process”.

Through her lawyers, Erza Legal, Cr de Graaf insisted she had only been asking legitimate questions and raising genuine concerns on behalf of ratepayers.

“It is our client’s right, and obligation, to take a firm position on matters she considers to be in the interests of the local residents, council and the elected members,” they said.

EMAIL EXTRACTS FROM ONKAPARINGA COUNCILLOR ALAYNA DE GRAAF

Email extracts from Onkaparinga councillor Alayna de Graaf to Mayor Erin Thompson, other elected members and senior managers

…Some people seem to act as they are above the law, including some elected members. I believe some of this is culture wide, with bad examples having been spread throughout certain areas levels

…I have maintained for some time that the people who were found guilty of maladministration had helpers. Some of whom are likely employed here and some of whom were also guilty and are still here

…In my view, anyone who was a part of the past administration was complicit with many serious and systemic issues that carried on for many years. I prefer a fresh approach and all new directors

…Lying is a serious breach under our Code of Conduct

…I will be lodging a code of conduct (complaint) for your rudeness

…Publicly being belittled and told I have asked same question ten times where there is problem. This a type of bullying and appears to be gaslighting

…I believe I may even have enough information to build a case of discrimination here, so I request this matter be taken seriously. I don’t feel the Mayor is being fair and there are other examples within the chamber

…I’m shocked (Cr Geoff Eaton) was permitted to speak the way he did at the meeting and I would request that there by some kind of guidelines for the future if a person is saying that is not appropriate. He could get a serious complaint made against him I think for that, although I won’t be making one in this instance