ICAC’s Parramatta Council inquiry begins over secret payout agreements to former staff

Gail Connolly has been appointed chief executive of Parramatta City Council in 2023, after previously leading Ryde and Georges River councils.

In July last year, reporter It has been revealed that Parramatta Council spent $5.24 million of taxpayers’ money over four years to sack staff and had 30 of them sign secret agreements for payments. Use of payments and releases being examined by investigation.

Two weeks later the ICAC raided the offices of council staff; This was the first sign of Operation Navarra, the agency’s name for the investigation that begins today.

In late September, this imprint reported that Connolly was in talks to leave the council. At a late-night meeting in October, councilors voted to remove him.