Pink Lady text exchanges reveal plan for council jobs before they got them
Before Roxanne Thornton started working for the City of Parramatta, in a text message exchange with the council’s newly appointed chief executive Gail Connolly, she described the then mayor as a “fat cow” and her colleagues on another council as “a bunch of idiots”.
Messages revealed by the Independent Commission Against Corruption’s public inquiry into the council also show Connolly forged Thornton’s signature on an employment contract.
On day 10 of the public inquiry – Thornton’s second day as a witness – the ICAC was shown a group chat between Connolly, Thornton and Angela Jones-Blayney, who call themselves the Pink Ladies, in which the trio discussed their plans for the council in detail, despite Connolly being the only member of staff on the council.
The ICAC is investigating the pair as part of Operation Navarra over a number of allegations, including that they, along with colleague Angela Jones-Blayney, deliberately subverted recruitment and promotion processes within the council to benefit their friends and colleagues.
In January 2023, before they both started working for the council, Connolly texted Thornton to see if she had noticed Parramatta’s then lord mayor Donna Davis in a video he had sent. According to the transcripts shown, Thornton replied: “Of course it is, fat cow.”
Deputy Counsel Joanna Davidson, SC, asked Thornton: “Do you remember why you had any reason to regard the lord mayor of Parramatta as a fat cow?”
“NO.”
The following month, Thornton, who was then working for the City of Canterbury-Bankstown, texted Connolly to say he was considering applying for a position with the City of Sydney. “I’m not sure I can extend my time in Canterbury Bankstown… much longer. Seriously. I’m surrounded by a lot of idiots.” He asked if Connolly would speak to the City of Sydney’s chief executive.
“I can talk to him but I can hold out,” Connolly replied, adding that he had a second round interview for the CEO position at the City of Parramatta. “I hope I succeed and can save you soon.”
In March, Connolly sent Thornton a message announcing his appointment as CEO. “I will finish negotiations with Donna [Davis, then-lord mayor] Tomorrow – you already have my draft C Program. Winner winner chicken dinner!” He added: “And Donna doesn’t care if I get rid of my current chief of staff; He hates it.”
Later that month, Connolly asked Thornton to provide a copy of Thornton’s e-signature for use as a witness in his employment contract. Connolly then sent a photo of a handwritten signature on his contract that read “I just signed your name.”
“F—, that’s pretty good,” Thornton responded.
Thornton told the investigation that he consented to the use of his e-signature as a witness to the contract, but acknowledged that it was not the wet signature required by the contract.
In text messages after taking over as council boss, Connolly texted Thornton and Jones-Blayney about plans to sack Bernadette Cavanagh, then the council’s HR boss.
“Wow!” responded Angela Jones-Blayney, who later joined the council as executive director. “They have no idea who they’re up against! Let the games begin!”
“Hahahaha!” Thornton responded.
Connolly later sent a message to the group: “3 weeks and 3 ‘resignations’; not all of which were directly initiated by me.”
“Cilantro,” Thornton replied 30 seconds later. “It’s you!!”
When asked what “cilantro” meant, Thornton told the inquiry: “[Connolly is] like coriander. You either love coriander or you hate coriander. Gail has a similarly polarizing personality. You either love it or you don’t. “There is no middle ground.”
More to come.
Anthony Segaert is The Sydney Morning Herald’s Parramatta bureau chief. He was previously an urban affairs reporter.Connect with: X or email.
