The NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption will hold a public inquiry starting Monday 11 May 2026 as part of an investigation it is conducting into allegations concerning City of Parramatta Council former Chief Executive Officer Gail Connolly, council employees Angela Jones-Blayney and Roxanne Thornton and other City of Parramatta Council staff (Operation Navarra).
The Commission is investigating whether, since April 2023, Ms Connolly and other City of Parramatta Council staff partially exercised their official functions by:
- intentionally subverting proper processes, and misusing council systems and information, to conduct targeted electronic surveillance and conduct investigations on staff and a councillor for personal advantage or in order to benefit friends and associates and/or for reprisal action
- terminating staff in circumstances that constituted a partial and/or dishonest exercise of their public official functions, for reprisal action or personal advantage or in order to benefit friends and associates.
The Commission is further investigating whether Ms Connolly, Ms Jones-Blayney, Ms Thornton and other City of Parramatta Council staff partially exercised their official functions by intentionally subverting recruitment, and promotion processes in order to benefit friends and associates.
Finally, the Commission is investigating whether Ms Connolly and other City of Parramatta Council staff engaged in conduct that constitutes a breach of public trust by:
- misusing public funds to facilitate the exit of City of Parramatta Council staff through deeds of release for personal advantage or to benefit others
- misusing council information acquired in the course of their official functions by disclosing confidential information to third parties for personal advantage.
The general scope and purpose of this public inquiry is to gather evidence relevant to the allegations being investigated for the purpose of determining the matters referred to in section 13(2) of the Independent Commission Against Corruption Act 1988.
Chief Commissioner the Hon John Hatzistergos AM will preside at the public inquiry. Counsel Assisting the Commission will be Joanna Davidson SC and Claire Palmer of Counsel.
Public inquiry details
- Commencing: Monday 11 May 2026
- Venue: ICAC Hearing Room, Level 7, 255 Elizabeth Street, Sydney
- Expected duration: 4 weeks
