Lord Mayor Jane Lomax-Smith reminds Adelaide City councillors of acceptable behaviour

In a stern letter, Adelaide City councillors have been warned about their potentially bullying and harassing behaviour. See the video here.

Adelaide City councillors are being warned to stop their potentially bullying and harassing behaviour and to stop sniggering and interrupting each other, in a stern letter from Lord Mayor Jane Lomax-Smith.

The letter, obtained by The Advertiser, was prompted after the conduct at the April 29 special meeting which was to discuss the draft 2025-26 budget and a proposed $600 minimum rate, which saw three councillors walk out in protest.

Dr Lomax-Smith wrote to all councillors this week so that “those who may have felt victimised” at the meeting know that she has taken action and made clear the “standards expected”.

Lord Mayor Jane Lomax-Smith outside of Adelaide Town Hall. Picture: David Mariuz

She informed councillors not to speak over one another, or interrupt by making statements, interjecting or by “engaging in other distracting conduct such as sniggering”.

“Continuous and sustained interruptions are not to be repeated,” Dr Lomax-Smith wrote.

“If repeated and, particularly, if repeated in the face of warnings, they have the potential to be harassing and bullying to those to whom they are directed.

“Further, it is not ever appropriate to address the chair, or another councillor in the course of a debate by suggesting that they are liars as part of an argument that a different point of view should be taken.

“The making of insulting statements of the sort we experienced should never occur. Such statements would not be tolerated in any other context in any workplace.”

Dr Lomax-Smith wrote if the conduct was repeated she would exercise the powers available to ensure the meeting “can be conducted in an orderly way that is, free of insults, and the potential for bullying and harassment”.

This council term has seen some elected members take defamation action against others, accusations of behaviour to intimidate women and a satire social media video made of the lord mayor.

Councillor Henry Davis’s satirical video.

Councillor Henry Davis as the lord mayor.

In a rare occasion, Dr Lomax-Smith used her gavel at Tuesday night’s council meeting to tell councillor Henry Davis to “sit down” after he claimed others were making accusations of bullying against him.

Cr Davis had been questioning the council chief executive, Michael Sedgman, on legal advice he received to elect a new deputy mayor and if Mr Sedgman had read the local government guidelines.

Adelaide City Council chief executive Michael Sedgman.

Lord Mayor of Adelaide, Jane Lomax-Smith. Picture: David Mariuz.

“The council is about to commit a very serious legal violation, I think questioning the CEO to ensure that he’s actually read the document that he’s quoting is very important,” he told the meeting.

Dr Lomax-Smith said his tone was “unacceptable” and “questioning people’s integrity was not necessary”.

The council had sought legal advice on how to appoint a new deputy mayor under its current Code of Practice guidelines, as it has difficulties maintaining quorum after the four Central Ward positions were voided following a court decision in April.

An amendment at Tuesday’s meeting allowed nominee Cr Phillip Martin to remain for the vote - usually a nominee would have to declare a conflict of interest and leave for the vote.

However, if there were multiple nominees a secret ballot would have been held.

Cr Martin was elected deputy lord mayor to replace former councillor David Elliott, who was one of four affected councillors.

He will receive an allowance of $47,035 a year, compared to 30,385 for councillors, and take up the role until four new councillors are elected later this year.

Originally published as Lord Mayor Jane Lomax-Smith reminds Adelaide City councillors of acceptable behaviour