‘Raises some concerns’: Councillor demands answers over staff turnover in Lord Mayor’s office

The staff turnover in the office of Adelaide Lord Mayor Jane Lomax-Smith in the past 18 months is double the amount of positions available – but she says it’s not unusual.

Question’s have been raised about staff turnover in the Adelaide Lord Mayor’s office.

Adelaide Lord Mayor Jane Lomax-Smith has had a dozen staff leave her office since taking the top job just over 18 months ago – but she says the turnover is not unusual.

The number of people who have left her office was double the amount of positions available, with some leaving their temporary or contract roles after one, two or three months.

Details of the $892,695 staffing budget and turnover were included in Tuesday night’s council meeting documents, following a question on notice by councillor Henry Davis.

Of the six full-time jobs available, two of the highest turnover positions were executive assistant to the Lord Mayor and senior advisers.

Two executive assistants had left after one month in the job, another after two months with the current assistant nine months into their tenure.

“Short-term contracts are not uncommon when searching for staff to make up a balanced team, and I am confident with the team that is providing me support now,” Dr Lomax-Smith said.

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

The five senior advisers included backfill for the current employee on sick leave.

The longest serving employee in the Lord Mayor’s office was an executive adviser, who has been in the position for the past three years – prior to the 2022 council election.

Cr Davis had asked the council for the staffing budget, job titles, staff turnover and reason for departure from the Lord Mayor’s office since the beginning of this council term.

The documents did not disclose staff reasons for leaving, only that they were recorded by the HR system as “resignations” regardless whether temp or contract, or whether staff had commenced other positions.

Adelaide councillor Henry Davis. Picture: Supplied

Cr Davis told The Advertiser the responses provided by the administration raised further questions about the staff turnover.

“I would’ve thought the Lord Mayor’s office would have a number of positions and those people get hired and they have permanence,” he said.

“I think it raises some concerns about what I’m hearing about how ratepayer money is being used and the reasons why people are going through that office.

“I just want to make sure the council is working effectively, clearly there is something that needs to be investigated.”

Cr Davis and Dr Lomax-Smith have had a fractured relationship since both being elected in November 2022.

Dr Lomax-Smith last month started legal action against Cr Davis, who she claims defamed her by calling her a “liar” at a June public meeting.

Cr Davis was issued a concerns notice by her lawyers requesting he apologise to Dr Lomax-Smith and retract his comments. He was yet to do so.

Originally published as ‘Raises some concerns’: Councillor demands answers over staff turnover in Lord Mayor’s office