A former CEO of SA’s Burnside City Council has lost an unfair dismissal case, and been ordered to pay costs estimated in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.
The Adelaide Advertiser reports on how Paul Deb was challenging the 2019 termination of his employment in the Supreme Court, after rejecting a $50K settlement offer in 2020.
Chief Justice Chris Kourakis found the termination was justified for a number of reasons, including his alleged involvement in emails criticising elected members; making disparaging comments about some newly elected councillors; and keeping intimate photographs of himself and a sexual partner on a work email drive.
The termination followed an investigation into complaints against Mr Deb, which included the alleged improper use of a council credit card.
Chief Justice Kourakis said Mr Deb’s conduct fatally compromised the trust and confidence that was critical to his employment relationship.
Read more from the Adelaide Advertiser here ($).