Council Reveals Independent OIA Referrals Report

STATEMENT attributable to Acting Mayor Ann-Maree Greaney

Council has now received the outcome of the independent investigation into four referrals to council from the Office of the Independent Assessor (OIA) concerning Mr Troy Thompson.

The independent investigator recommended that Council find:

1. In relation to a Facebook post dated 20 June 2024, while the comments were not entirely courteous or accurate, they did not amount to a breach of the Code of Conduct.
2. In relation to a Facebook post dated 21 June 2024, while the comments were not entirely courteous or accurate, they did not amount to a breach of the Code of Conduct.
3. In relation to a confidential email, the tone was discourteous and provocative, but the content did not amount to a breach.
4. In relation to a further email, Mr Thompson did engage in a breach by sending serious allegations about the Acting CEO to multiple recipients.

For this breach, the independent investigation has recommended an order reprimanding Mr Thompson for the conduct and an order that Mr Thompson attend appropriate training or counselling to address compliance with the Code of Conduct.

A conduct breach requires Council to decide what action it will take to discipline Mr Thompson from a prescribed list of orders.

To this end, councillors have agreed it be ordered that:

1. Mr Thompson be reprimanded for the conduct;
2. Mr Thompson attend training or counselling to address his conduct at his expense;
3. if Mr Thompson engage in the same type of conduct again, it will be treated as misconduct;
4. and that Mr Thompson be ordered to reimburse council for all of the costs arising from his inappropriate conduct.

Councillors broadly disagree with the independent investigators general view that Mr Thompson's actions have not damaged public confidence in council. However, Council accepts the report's findings and recommendations.

The investigation report is now available publicly.