Overview

• Acting Justice Monika Schmidt overturned the City of Parramatta’s censure of Councillor Kellie Darley and invalidated the conduct review by independent investigator Phil O’Toole.
• The court found the council’s complaints coordinator intervened in the drafting and recommendations of the review, undermining the reviewer’s independence.
• General manager Gail Connolly withheld key attachments from councillors before the censure vote, contrary to requirements under the Local Government Act.
• The judgment said the council was wrong to defend its compromised decision in court, with orders on Darley’s legal costs to be determined at a later hearing.
• Darley welcomed the ruling as vindication after posts about a Parramatta Eels partnership approved at $1.1 million and reported internally up to $2.4 million, while the council said it is reviewing the decision.