Committee to investigate possible false and misleading evidence given by CEO of the Canberra Institute of Technology (CIT), Dr Margot McNeill, during the Standing Committee on Public Accounts and Administration’s inquiry into the recruitment process that led to her appointment as CEO. The Committee will seek to determine whether Dr McNeill is in contempt of the Assembly.
Thomas spoke in support of the motion, where he reiterated his calls for Dr McNeill to be dismissed on the basis of the Public Accounts and Administration Committee’s finding that she “actively misled the CIT Board by denying that there was a finding of misconduct that had been made against her.” Thomas also highlighted that Dr McNeill had repeatedly asserted that she was bound by confidentiality constraints imposed by TAFE NSW requiring her not to advise CIT of TAFE NSW’s misconduct investigation against her. TAFE NSW, however, recently issued a statement saying they gave Dr McNeill permission to disclose any facts or circumstances connected with her employment at TAFE NSW and at no point specifically directed Dr McNeill not to disclose the existence of the investigation to CIT.
The motion passed the Assembly with unanimous support.
Labor MLA Taimus Werner-Gibbings, Greens MLA Andrew Braddock and Liberal MLA Elizabeth Lee will be members of the newly-established Select Committee on Privileges 2026.