Public debate continues about the process that led to Hawkesbury City Council approving the 38-week salary payout to former General Manager Elizabeth Richardson.
Hawkesbury's former GM began work at NSW Office of Sport as Executive Director Centre and Venues two weeks after leaving Council with 38 weeks salary payout.
According to sources familiar with the matter, councillors held differing views about the resignation, and whether additional independent advice or external review should have been sought before the payout of approximately $340,000 decision was finalised.
The confidential Council meeting
It is understood that some councillors sought further information regarding workplace health and safety considerations and advice from external oversight bodies, including the NSW Office of Local Government, during the confidential meeting held on 14 April to discuss the General Manager's resignation.
The Gazette understands that workplace conduct concerns, including allegations of bullying, harassment and sexual harassment, were among the matters discussed during the confidential session.
Because the discussion occurred during a confidential session, many aspects of what transpired cannot be independently verified and councillors themselves remain constrained by obligations under local government legislation.
The Gazette has not independently verified those allegations, does not know whether they related to any current or former councillor, staff member, other person or local media and no findings have been made by any court, tribunal, regulator or investigative body in relation to those matters.
Information reportedly brought to police attention
The Gazette understands that concerns with the meeting was subsequently brought to the attention of police.
The Gazette is unaware of any investigation, complaint outcome, allegation of criminal conduct, charge, finding or adverse determination involving any councillor, Council staff member, the former General Manager or any other person arising from that information.
Councillor on Councillor bullying allegations
SafeWork NSW are investigating allegations of Councillor-on-Councillor bullying and harassment after Cr Creed made a speech about this at the 14 May Council meeting.
Mayor & GM ban local media
Two weeks after the confidential Council meeting, Interim General Manager Will Barton and Mayor Cr Les Sheather issued an exclusion notice to this publication and Hawkesbury Radio banning the organisations from Council premises on the basis they posed a workplace health and safety risk to councillors and staff.
Interim General Manager Will Barton told ABC Radio that no WHS incident had been reported, and the exclusion notice is a preventive measure intended to protect councillors and staff.
On 2 June the Minster for Local Government wrote to the publisher of the Gazette about this ban stating:
"The Office of Local Government has written to the Mayor asking him to reconsider the proposed ban on media outlets attending Council meeting and premises." Hon Ron Hoenig Minister for Local Government.
Local media outlets remain excluded from Council premises.
Former General Manager 38-week payout
Under standard NSW local government contract under which General Managers are employed, a voluntary resignation would not ordinarily trigger the 38-week payout provision in the contract.
Hawkesbury City Council has consistently made public statements referring to Ms Richardson as having resigned her position.
A separate negotiated arrangement between the parties, such as a deed of separation or deed of release is required for any payment, other than the usual entitlements received upon leaving employment.
In correspondence to Hawkesbury City Council dated 12 May 2026 the Office of Local Government confirmed such a Deed exists between the Council and Ms Richardson. The contents of the agreement remain confidential. Because of this, the contractual mechanism under which the payment was approved has not been publicly disclosed.
Request to the Office of Local Government
The Gazette wrote to the NSW Office of Local Government seeking clarification regarding the operation of relevant contractual and legislative provisions and how they apply where a resignation and a substantial separation payment occur concurrently.
The Gazette asked:
• Under the standard NSW local government General Manager contract, is a 38-week severance payment available to an employee who resigns their position?
• Are there circumstances in which a council and a General Manager may agree to a separation arrangement following a resignation that includes a payment equivalent to a contractual severance entitlement?
• Does the Office of Local Government have any oversight, review or reporting role in relation to such arrangements?
• Based on publicly available information, does the Office of Local Government have any concerns regarding a council publicly describing a departure as a resignation while also approving a payment equivalent to a 38-week severance entitlement?
A spokesperson for the Office of Local Government 5 June 2026 said:
Ultimately, the employment and termination of a council’s general manager is a matter for the individual council, in accordance with the terms of the general manager’s employment contract.
Neither the Minister for Local Government nor the Office of Local Government has any role in those decisions.
The Office of Local Government’s Guidelines for the Appointment and Oversight of General Managers advises that day-to-day oversight of the general manager should be undertaken by the mayor, including termination of employment.
General managers of NSW Councils are employed under a standard contract approved by the Office of Local Government.
Request to Mayor Les Sheather
In a formal media response provided to the Gazette on 26 May, Mayor Les Sheather defended both the payout decision and the exclusion notice.
Asked whether the payout served the best interests of ratepayers, Cr Sheather responded: "Yes."
He also stated councillors had been provided with "sufficient information" before making the decision and said the confidential session had been conducted appropriately.
Responding to transparency concerns, Cr Sheather said the Local Government Act permits councils to withhold information relating to personnel matters involving particular individuals under section 10A(2)(a) of the Act.
Regarding the exclusion notice issued to local media organisations, Council cited what it described as repeated social media reporting that allegedly constituted harassment of staff, defamatory imputations, factually incorrect reporting concerning Council business and attempts to influence operational decision-making through "agenda and person-based bullying or harassing".
However, Council has been unable to provide any example to support this statement.
Question waiting for an answer
Council publicly says the GM resigned, what contractual mechanism allowed a 38-week payment?
Disclaimer
Because discussion occurred in confidential session, the Gazette has been unable to independently verify matters raised during the meeting of 14 April 2026.
The Gazette is not suggesting any wrongdoing by Hawkesbury City Council, its councillors, staff or the former General Manager. The Gazette is seeking clarification regarding the operation of relevant contractual and legislative provisions and their application where a resignation and a substantial separation payment occur concurrently.
The Gazette is not aware of any finding by any court, tribunal, regulator, investigative body or law-enforcement agency that any councillor, Council employee, the former General Manager or any other person engaged in unlawful conduct in connection with the matters referred to in this article.
No finding of wrongdoing has been made against any councillor, Council staff member or Ms Richardson, and many aspects of the confidential discussions remain disputed.
Disclosure
The Hawkesbury Gazette discloses that Councillor Mary Lyons-Buckett has familial ties to the publisher. The Gazette maintains editorial independence and publishes this disclosure in the interests of transparency.
