Police Association SA expels candidate Darren Cornell for comments made about President Wade Burns

A candidate who spoke out against embattled Police Association president Wade Burns has been booted, with a leaked email claiming the move was like a “Kangaroo Court”.

A presidential candidate who ran against newly-appointed police association boss Wade Burns has been ousted from the union, with a leaked email claiming the decision was akin to a “Kangaroo Court”.

On July 12, Darren Cornell received a letter from the Police Association of South Australia (PASA) informing him the union was considering expelling him for comments made during the election campaign against the alleged conduct of Mr Burns.

Mr Cornell said he had since been informed that the PASA Committee had on Thursday night passed a motion to expel him and two other association delegates.

In an email sent to PASA members on Friday, Mr Cornell said he believed the “Kangaroo Court” process had “prevented a fair and competitive contest” in the March 2025 PASA election, as expulsion means he cannot run.

He said the July 12 letter asserted his conduct during the recent presidential election, during which Mr Cornell publicly called for Mr Burns to end his “untenable” campaign after assault allegations were aired in parliament, brought “discredit to PASA”.

Mr Burns defeated Mr Cornell for the presidential role by fewer than 50 votes in the election on July 4.

“I sought legal advice, at my own expense, and have provided PASA with a written response, along with a letter from Ethical and Professional Standards Branch (EPSB) as two complaints had been received by Office of Public Integrity (OPI),” Mr Cornell said.

The Police Association has expelled presidential candidate Darren Cornell (left) for comments made about President Wade Burns (right) during his campaign. Picture: Supplied

“EPSB has stated I did not breach SAPOL’s code of conduct at any time during the election period.”

In his email, Mr Cornell said six other workplace delegates had recently lodged a formal complaint to the union about the actions of PASA Committee members prior to, during and post the election.

“This complaint was also supported wholly, or in part, by other delegates. Their complaint also requested PASA Committee call a Special Meeting of members to discuss the concerns they raised,” Mr Cornell said.

Mr Cornell said PASA did not agree to the Special Meeting and instead sent the six authors show cause notices “threatening their expulsion”.

He said he was seeking advice as to his next course of action.

Independent MLC Frank Pangallo said the decision to expel the three members “because they spoke out about the conduct of the union and its president” was “utterly outrageous”.

“The fact that they are prepared to get rid of critics who threaten their stronghold should shock their rank and file members … it almost reads like a page ripped out of the CFMEU songbook,” he said.

“It’s time they spoke up against the management and had a really good look at how they are running their affairs and managing their funds.”

Following his election win, Mr Burns released a video dismissing the allegations made against him as a “workplace matter”. Picture: PASA

Mr Burns and PASA have been contacted for comment.

In June, Mr Pangallo used parliamentary privilege to reveal Mr Burns was demoted from chief inspector to senior sergeant in 2017 after it was claimed he indecently assaulted a then-civilian female SA Police employee at a social function. No charges were laid.

He was subsequently reinstated to the rank of inspector.

Following the claims being made public, Mr Burns dismissed the allegations against him as “an internal workplace matter that was dealt with many years ago” and said he “was never charged with an assault of any kind”.

Prior to his election, Mr Burns stood down as chair of the Basketball SA Commission and the Woodcroft College council.

Originally published as Police Association SA expels candidate Darren Cornell for comments made about President Wade Burns