Former police union deputy president Samantha Strange gets a win in long-running legal battle against association and senior officials

Former police union deputy president Samantha Strange has got a win in her long-running legal battle against the association and senior officials.

Former police union deputy president Samantha Strange has had a win in her long-running legal battle against the association and senior officials – but the case is still being kept secret from members.

Ms Strange had launched civil action in the District Court against former president Mark Carroll, secretary Bernadette Zimmermann and the Police Association of South Australia (PASA).

It is understood she sought access to a range of documents, including some related to an independent investigation into the conduct of Mr Carroll.

The case has been heard almost entirely in closed court at the request of Mr Carroll, however The Advertiser can reveal he and PASA have recently lodged appeal documents in the Supreme Court.

Police Association of South Australia president Mark Carroll. Picture: Supplied

Former police union deputy president Sam Strange.

Court information showed a hearing in the appeal has been scheduled for later this month. It is understood Ms Zimmermann, who is Mr Carroll’s sister, has not joined the appeal.

The court will also consider a request from a group of fed-up union members to lift a blanket secrecy order that has barred them from accessing any information about the case.

Last month, one of the group – Paulene Porter – lodged her own application to lift the order.

“As a member of PASA I am in part funding the first, second and third respondent’s opposition to this application,” she said in an affidavit.

“Coupled with the current lack of open justice of this matter, I am additionally being refused … all information both factual and financial that relates to the outstanding application and all minutes relating to decision-making are being kept from myself and other members.”

The secrecy order was made after Mr Carroll’s lawyer argued there was a risk of prejudice to the administration of justice and “obviously an element of hardship”.

Paulene Porter, right, with her lawyer Andrew Carpenter outside court last month. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Brenton Edwards

But Ms Porter said “such a position does not outweigh the need for open justice”.

This week, a group of union delegates lodged a formal complaint with Ms Zimmermann that raised several matters including the cost and secrecy around the case.

The delegates requested a detailed cost analysis of expenditure associated with the resignation of Ms Strange and three other PASA staff, who lodged claims in the Fair Work Commission but later withdrew.

They also demanded access to the union’s financial records within the next seven days, which they said was a constitutional right that has previously been refused.

Ms Strange declined to comment on the appeal on Friday, and PASA has been contacted.