SA independent Frank Pangallo calls for integrity probe into Yorke Peninsula Council

Independent MLC Frank Pangallo has urged authorities to investigate the circumstances behind an SA councillor’s mysterious suspension.

Yorke Peninsula councillor Adam Meyer (right) was suspended without pay for one month after complaints from a ‘senior council officer’, which were supported by Mayor Darren Braund (left).

Independent MLC Frank Pangallo has condemned the “serious misbehaviour” findings against a Yorke Peninsula councillor as a “witch hunt”.

Adam Meyer was suspended for one month without pay on Friday, January 10, after an disciplinary panel found he repeatedly made “antagonistic” comments to a council officer, who complained their mental health was adversely affected.

The Advertiser revealed on Thursday that Mr Meyer, also an SA Police officer, had been seeking confidential documents from the unnamed staffer about a council land deal, accusing them of a conflict of interest in the matter.

Mr Pangallo said people close to the situation alerted him to it, and he would consider a referral to the Office of Public Integrity and SA Ombudsman.

Independent MLC Frank Pangallo said that an “elected member has every right to serve their constituents and not be silenced”. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Brenton Edwards

“This smacks of a witch hunt,” he told The Advertiser.

“(Mr Meyer) was doing his job as an elected member and asking some tough but fair questions to the council administrators and some members about a serious issue of governance.

“I intend making further inquiries.”

In 2022 and 2023, three complaints were lodged with the Ombudsman about the alleged conflicts of interest, but the agency chose not to investigate and could not reveal why.

In its report, the Behavioural Standards Panel, a statewide disciplinary body for council members, said it received no evidence of actual “psychological injury” to the senior employee but relied on testimony from Mayor Darren Braund.

No appeal options are available to Mr Meyer other than a costly review in the courts.

“Council executives get paid big bucks to handle big budgets and staff,” Mr Pangallo said.

“If their egos become brittle when they are unable to accept criticism or legitimate questions about their performance, they shouldn’t be in that pressure cooker job.

“I’ll remind them that this isn’t Russia and an elected member has every right to serve their constituents and not be silenced.”

Mr Pangallo is known for pursuing public scrutiny issues and in September aired mismanagement claims against the Police Association of South Australia under his parliamentary privilege.

He and the Yorke Peninsula Ratepayers Association have organised a public forum on February 11, 5.30pm, at Sharp Arthurton Sporting Club to discuss council matters.

Association chairman Ian Markos called Mr Meyer a “highly intelligent individual with a natural ability to ask questions”, adding that anger towards the council had reached “boiling point”.

On Wednesday, Mr Braund told The Advertiser he agreed with the panel’s findings and “council members ought to be deterred from engaging in behaviour that improperly targets individuals”.

“Council members that do not meet these standards can cause harm to fellow members, council staff, and members of the public, and cause reputational damage to both their council and local government more broadly,” he said.

He declined to answer questions about the nature of documents requested by Mr Meyer.

Mr Meyer said he was presently unable to comment further.