Gawler Mayor Karen Redman directed to publicly apologise after comments made about ratepayer

A mayor in Adelaide’s north has been told to apologise to a ratepayer, over comments she made labelling him a work health and safety “risk”.

Karen Redman Gawler mayor Karen Redman in Murray St, Gawler. Picture: Colin James

Gawler Mayor Karen Redman must publicly apologise to a ratepayer later this month, after she was found to have breached the council’s behavioural standards four times.

An investigation by a law firm, which cost ratepayers about $12,000, found Ms Redman failed to act in a respectful way, or in a way that generates community trust and confidence in the council.

She was also found to have failed to discharge her duties conscientiously and failed to show respect to others when making public comments on council matters.

Ms Redman had told a public meeting in May last year if former councillor Ian Tooley made a deputation on the chief executive’s performance it would be a health and safety risk.

She said there were “work health and safety laws around our employee who is the CEO” and by allowing the deputation to proceed “there could be a risk to council and to our CEO”.

Mr Tooley, who was not present at the meeting when Ms Redman’s comments were made, had been denied the deputation request as it was lodged less than seven days before the meeting.

Gawler Council Mayor Karen Redman and then-chief executive Henry Inat at a council meeting. Picture: Colin James

The council received a complaint about Ms Redman’s comments and engaged Mellor Olsson Lawyers for advice.

Ms Redman agreed to issue a public apology to Mr Tooley at this year’s January meeting.

However, during a December public meeting she turned her microphone off before apologising for her comments and did not reference Mr Tooley.

As a result, the matter was referred to the lawyers for an investigation, costing $12,100, and she was found to have breached the council’s behavioural standards four times.

Ratepayer and former councillor Ian Tooley. Picture: Supplied

Elected members unanimously agreed last month that Ms Redman must make a public apology at the July 23 council meeting.

An example of the apology, which was formulated by staff in this month’s council papers, included: “I made comments which implied that Mr Tooley giving a deputation at that meeting would be a health and safety risk to our then-CEO Henry Inat.”

“My comments were inappropriate and should not have been made in a public forum.

“I apologise for Mr Tooley for making those comments and for any embarrassment caused as a result.”

Ms Redman and Mr Tooley have a fractured relationship, with the two serving on the council together for seven years before Mr Tooley resigned in 2021.

Ms Redman filed a complaint against Mr Tooley with the State Ombudsman last council term, who recommended the then-councillor be censured by the council for failing to apologise at two meetings for breaches of the code of conduct.

Mr Tooley tabled a scathing resignation letter in 2021 saying he had become “disillusioned with this council, and with this leadership team and administration, and feel that there is no point in fighting on”.

He described the chamber as being “toxic and factional”.

Originally published as Gawler Mayor Karen Redman directed to publicly apologise after comments made about ratepayer