Litchfield Mayor Doug Barden takes Cr Mathew Salter to tribunal over alleged leaking, defamation

A Northern Territory mayor is seeking to have a councillor pay compensation and possibly be dismissed from the council over allegations of leaking and making defamatory statements to a local group.

Litchfield Mayor Doug Barden. Picture: Litchfield Council

A Northern Territory mayor is seeking to have a councillor pay a penalty and possibly even be dismissed from the council over allegations of leaking and making defamatory statements to a local group.

Litchfield Mayor Douglas Barden has lodged a claim in the Northern Territory Civil and Administrative Tribunal, alleging North Ward Councillor Mathew Salter contravened the Local Government Act 2019.

Mr Barden is seeking a public statement of apology, compensation of between $2000–$10,000, “possible dismissal” of Mr Salter, or, if he retains his position on council, a “stern warning” and exclusion from confidential council meetings for six months.

According to Mr Barden’s complaint against Mr Salter, obtained by the NT News, the dispute relates to a notice that Mr Salter allegedly provided to the management board of Freds Pass Reserve in advance of a board meeting on April 24 last year.

Litchfield councillor Mathew Salter. Picture: Litchfield Council

Mr Salter is alleged by Mr Barden to have divulged details in the notice of a vote within a confidential closed council session on March 21, relating to funding of Freds Pass Reserve.

“The notice also included allegations that the Mayor and Chief Executive Officer had made defamatory comments at the Ordinary Council Meeting about the Freds Pass Sporting and Recreation Reserve Management Board,” Mr Barden claimed.

“The comments included the Mayor and Chief Executive Officer accusing the board of hoarding money, they were overstaffed and lazy, not completing works as promised and that they deliberately excluded the board from consultation in relation to a $10 million netball court.”

The Freds Pass Sport and Recreation Reserve. Picture: File

Mr Barden claimed the notice was circulated among board members and read out at the meeting.

According to Mr Barden’s complaint, Mr Salter allegedly wrote to the council on April 26 admitting he had leaked details of the confidential council meeting to a member of the board.

“He admitted that it was wrong and apologised,” Mr Barden claimed.

Mr Barden originally made a complaint to the Prescribed Corporation Panel, which rules on whether the Local Government Code of Conduct has been breached, but the panel advised “the complaint would more appropriately form the subject matter of a criminal charge”.

According to Mr Barden’s claim, he advised on October 11 he did not want to pursue criminal charges.

Mr Salter is not charged with any criminal wrongdoing.

The council’s chief executive officer Stephen Hoyne referred the matter to the Independent Commissioner Against Corruption, but commissioner Michael Riches advised he would not pursue the matter.

When contacted by the NT News, Mr Salter said his actions were about “defending” the Fred Pass Reserve board, on which he previously sat for about three years.

“I actually leaked a document I shouldn’t have,” Mr Salter said.

“Legally, he’s [Mr Barden] got the wood on me, morally, I’ve got the wood on him.”

Mr Salter said he believed it was unclear that the tribunal had jurisdiction to hear Mr Barden’s complaint.

Mr Barden and the Fred Pass Reserve management board were contacted for comment.

The complaint will come before the tribunal for a hearing on Friday.

Originally published as Litchfield Mayor Doug Barden takes Cr Mathew Salter to tribunal over alleged leaking, defamation