City councillor apologises for ‘misogyny’ claims
An Adelaide city councillor has apologised for and retracted comments she made in a 2024 meeting after defamation action was settled.
Councillor Janet Giles apologised to Councillor Henry Davis in last night’s council meeting for comments she made at a council meeting in July last year that Davis said “constitutes an allegation of misogyny”.
“I acknowledge that Robert Lloyd Henry Davis, known to us as councillor Henry Davis, has, in documents sent to me, formally asserted that I defamed him at the council meeting of July the ninth, 2024,” Giles said.
“I do not believe, nor have I ever believed, as a document sent to me alleged, that councillor Davis is a misogynist.
“I do not believe that he initiates attacks on women in council or on social media, or endorses or encourages the mocking of women by engaging in attacks or posts that are disrespectful or that he passively approves of such behaviour.
“Lord Mayor, I want to assure you, the chamber and especially councillor Davis, that what councillor Davis asserts occurred was not my intent.
“I publicly and unconditionally apologise to councillor Henry Davis for any hurt or distress that he feels, and I unconditionally retract my assertions of July the ninth in their entirety.”
Davis, a lawyer, launched defamation proceedings against Giles and councillor Phillip Martin in September 2024.
Martin publicly apologised and retracted his previous comments at a council meeting in September following the proceedings being launched.
Davis has previously said the matter with Martin was settled, with agreement between the parties to not comment further on the matter publicly or privately.
Davis thanked Giles for her public apology after the almost year-long legal process.
“I’d like to thank Cr Giles for her apology which I accept,” he said.
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“The court matter has now been settled with an amount of monetary compensation paid by Giles.
“I look forward to working with all my colleagues over the remainder of the term.”
The matter between Davis and Giles was settled on Monday for an undisclosed amount.
Davis was pursuing Giles in the Adelaide Magistrates Court for the jurisdiction’s maximum damages cap of $12,000.
