Overview
- The public phase of Operation Navarra has concluded after weeks of hearings that probed whether City of Parramatta staff misused public funds, subverted recruitment and disclosed confidential information.
- Former CEO Gail Connolly agreed under questioning that she asked senior staff to monitor the emails and phone records of independent councillor Kellie Darley but denied many other allegations.
- Roxanne Thornton admitted at the inquiry that she had engaged in nepotistic hiring and said she had ‘‘done the wrong thing,’’ giving the commission at least one clear admission of misconduct.
- Connolly repeatedly answered ‘‘can’t recall’’ during cross‑examination, conceded limited wrongdoings such as sending inappropriate texts and lying to the lord mayor, and disputed claims by the former head of IT that she routinely ordered email searches to frustrate FOI requests.
- The ICAC will now assess thousands of pages of evidence to determine findings and possible referrals for prosecution or other sanctions, and the case has highlighted wider governance risks for NSW councils including deeds of release, secret payouts and surveillance of staff.