Scouts bosses accused of illegal monitoring of staff emails

A legal fight has broken out within Scouts NSW after the heads of the operation were accused of illegally monitoring emails.

An internal war has broken out in Scouts NSW, with the operation’s chief executive and chair accused of illegally monitoring staff emails, leading to a court battle.

The youth development organisation’s chief executive Carolyn Campbell and chair Kerry McGoldrick are listed to face Burwood Local Court on May 9 to answer to one charge each of unlawful email surveillance in breach of workplace surveillance laws.

Adding to the unusual situation, police have had no involvement in bringing the case against the two executives.

Instead, the case has been brought about as a private prosecution by former Scouts NSW chief commissioner Grant De Fries AM, who is the current chair of Scouts NSW’s South Metropolitan Region and has worked for more than a decade as a lawyer.

In documents released by Burwood Local Court, Mr De Fries has accused each of the executives of illegally monitoring the emails of Scouts staff members between last August and March.

Chair of Scouts NSW’s South Metropolitan Region Grant De Fries has accused two executives of illegally monitoring the emails of staff members.

Ms Campbell and Mr McGoldrick declined to answer specific questions about the court case. Instead, a spokesman for the pair emailed a statement that said “all allegations are denied”.

“Ms Campbell and Mr McGoldrick are pleading not guilty, and the charge will be vigorously defended,” the spokesman said.

“There is no ongoing continuous monitoring of Scouts NSW employees or volunteers,” the spokesman added.

Similarly, Mr De Fries declined to speak about the case and said: “As the matter is currently before the court, it would be inappropriate for me to comment.”

Scouts are understood to have employed the forensic accounting section of KPMG to conduct an investigation into the South Metropolitan Region’s practices and procedures.

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