9.32amHearing due to begin at 9.30amBy Given how late this inquiry has run, the commission is trying to get through as much evidence as it can. The inquiry has been starting early and sitting late – 9.30am start with a 4.30pm finish – as Counsel Assisting powers through questions.But these things haven’t quite run on time. You can watch the livestream of the proceedings here.For possibly the first time yesterday, there was a concession from Connolly about what she “shouldn’t have said” – about the sharing of confidential information about other candidates for a job to her friend and future colleague, Angela Jones-Blayney.Gail Connolly arrives at the ICAC on Monday.
Steven S9.22amWhat’s happening todayBy We’re expecting to resume today’s hearing at 9.30am, with ongoing questions from counsel assisting Joanna Davidson, SC to Gail Connolly, who is on her sixth day as a witness.We’re into the sixth week of what was meant to be a four week hearing– there have been discussions about when it will end. Today could be the day Counsel Assisting finishes its questions – but it’s likely Connolly’s lawyers will apply to cross-examine her.As a reminder, here are the key players:The ICAC has heard evidence that this trio, and others, called themselves the Pink Ops, or Pink Ladies – a social group made up of women who had worked together at the City of Ryde. Connolly described the group, which went on weekends away together and drank Veuve, as a local government mentoring network.9.19amGood morningBy Welcome to day 23 of the Independent Commission Against Corruption’s public inquiry into the City of Parramatta’s former chief executive Gail Connolly and other staff, Roxanne Thornton and Angela Jones-Blayney.Under Operation Navarra, the ICAC is investigating whether council staff members, central among them Connolly, misused public funds by having staff leave through deeds of release (agreements made between staff and the council upon a departure), subverted the council’s recruitment and other processes, disclosed confidential information to third parties, and spied on staff and a councillor.1 of 1
