DEFAMATION accusations from an outspoken Gawler councillor aimed at the rest of the chamber were discussed behind closed doors at a confidential meeting last night.

Elected members discussed councillor Ian Tooley’s claim he was defamed during an April council meeting.

The agenda item, named “update on potential defamation claim”, was closed to everyone except Kelledy Jones Lawyers representative Michael Kelledy and Local Government Authority (LGA) mutual liability scheme manager Robyn Daly.

It is unknown whether Cr Tooley was involved in the secret discussion.

The outspoken councillor has alleged elected members defamed him when discussing a motion during an April 28 council meeting which could have led to his removal for missing three-consecutive meetings.

Cr Tooley’s peers voted to keep him in the chamber, but expressed concern with his past behaviour in meetings.

Elected members voted for council staff to prepare a report into “…options available for council to deal with the repeated and sustained behaviour and breaches by Cr Tooley”.

The outcome of this report was also discussed behind closed doors last night – after The Bunyip’s print deadline.

In a statement following the meeting, Cr Tooley alleged the phrase “…repeated and sustained behaviour and breaches…” used in the official motion was defamatory as he had only been officially sanctioned once by the chamber.

“The intention was clearly to turn item 11.8 into an attack on me and to make it not about my attendance, but to instead make it about my behaviour and conduct, and this was clearly premeditated,” his statement read.

“The motion passed at item 11.8, the subject of the debate, quite clearly finds me already guilty of repeated and sustained behaviour and breaches without there being even a single shred of evidence to support such a statement.”

Gawler Mayor Karen Redman said the matter was being handled by the LGA mutual liability scheme and declined to comment further.

Ms Daly also declined to comment.