Brendan Simpkins

DIVISIVE councillor Ian Tooley has sensationally quit Gawler Council after becoming “totally disillusioned” with the chamber.

Mr Tooley has been missing in the chamber since April, twice granted leave of absences in that timeframe.

Council chief executive Henry Inat informed elected members of Mr Tooley’s resignation at council’s ordinary meeting last Tuesday.

However, Mr Tooley’s letter of resignation was not presented to members on the basis of legal advice council had received.

Mr Inat told members “it was not appropriate” to present the letter given its contents.

“It contains information and commentary that would not be appropriate to be circulated, again that’s based on legal advice,” he said.

But speaking to The Bunyip, Mr Tooley said he had become disillusioned with council and that his only option was to resign with 18 months left in his term.

Mr Tooley said he no longer felt “safe” or “able to his job” following the March 23 council meeting.

“I am disillusioned, I cannot see a way forward,” he said.

“..because this administration and this council is so toxic, I guess in the four months (of leave) I have realised it’s just not going to go anywhere.”

The other major factor that contributed to Mr Tooley’s resignation was an incident last year in which he was not granted leave to isolate at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic because of his wife being immuno-compromised and spending two weeks in intensive care with acute pneumonia, sepsis and organ failure.

Having already missed two meetings in the lead-up to the April 2020 meeting, Mr Tooley faced being removed from his position due to missing three meetings in a row without leave.

Mr Tooley said he was unsure if he or his wife could ever get over that incident. The Bunyip contacted Mr Inat regarding the vacancy on council that Mr Tooley’s resignation has left.

Asked if a supplementary election would be held, Mr Inat said that council was not required to do so under the Local Government (Elections) Act 1999.

Part six of the Act refers to supplementary elections and states that such an election will not be held if the vacancy is for an office other than the mayor, the council is not divided into wards and there is no other vacancy in the office.

Council also has a supplementary election policy that states it does not have to hold an election for the same reasons as stated in the Act.

A report is expected to be on the agenda at this month’s council meeting that will advise of the next steps following the resignation.

The Bunyip has obtained a copy of Mr Tooley’s letter of resignation.

Addressed to the Gawler community and the chamber, Mr Tooley said it was “a privilege” to serve the community.

Mr Tooley served seven years on council after being elected in 2014.

Among his highlights, he included helping residents in Eckerman Avenue in getting the Gawler East Link Road redirected and pushing council to become the first in South Australia to declare a climate emergency.