Waverley councillors to battle in court over defamation case

Two eastern suburbs Liberals will duke it out in court after a stoush over an alleged boozy council meeting has resulted in defamation proceedings.

Two eastern suburbs Liberals will duke it out in court after a stoush over an alleged boozy council meeting has resulted in defamation proceedings.

Liberal state executive member Sally Betts is now suing her Waverley Council colleague Leon Goltsman after his complaints about her alleged antics after a meeting last year were made public.

Cr Goltsman had written to the party’s HQ in January to complain that he was “dismayed” at Cr Betts’ “excessive alcohol consumption and offensive language” at the meeting.

The letter and its publication in the press are the subject of Cr Betts’ complaint after Cr Goltsman claimed she told him to “f. k off”.

Cr Betts’ barrister in court accused Cr Goltsman of being the one who supplied the letter to the media.

Former mayor Sally Betts. Picture: John Appleyard

Cr Betts, the former mayor and one of the most powerful players in the Liberal Party, is subject to a council investigation in relation to her actions at that council meeting in October 2023.

The meeting at the centre of the case was one of the most volatile in years as councillors debated a motion on the Israel-Hamas conflict.

Waverley councillor Leon Goltsman

The case went before the Downing Centre District Court for the first time on Thursday where Cr Goltsman was represented by former Waverley Mayor and political sparring partner of Ms Betts, George Newhouse.

Cr Betts is planning to contest the local government election in September but apologised in March after using the phrase “gay boys” in a leaked message from a WhatsApp group chat for women in the Liberal Party.

She has been on the council for more than two decades, while Cr Goltsman is expected to call time on his tenure at council.

It is not the first time Cr Goltsman has been threatened with lawyers by a council colleague.

In 2020 Waverley Mayor Paula Masselos eventually withdrew a defamation threat against Cr Goltsman after he criticised her response to the Covid pandemic.

The defamation case between Crs Betts and Goltsman was briefly mentioned before Judge Judith Gibson who adjourned it for more documents to be filed in the coming weeks.