ICAC Operation Navarra live: Former Parramatta CEO Gail Connolly returns to the witness box
Connolly is accused of subverting recruitment practices, disclosing confidential information for her own benefit and spying on council staff and an elected official.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
9.29amWhat we heard on FridayBy Michael RufflesOn Friday, the inquiry heard ousted City of Parramatta chief executive Gail Connolly suspected she would be fired by councillors a year before it happened.Day 21 of the ICAC’s Operation Navarra public inquiry heard Connolly made staff redundant, characterised the departures as resignations, and “obscured” this fact to councillors in reports and in confidential briefings. She directly informed councillors that no one had been made redundant.On her fourth day as a witness, Connolly said it was “clear I was going to be terminated” in the lead-up to the September 2024 local government elections, more than a year before she was eventually sacked by councillors in a rowdy late-night meeting on October 13, 2025.“I just generally accepted that at…
Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at The Sydney Morning Herald.