Text messages tendered to the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) are described as showing senior figures associated with Parramatta’s “Pink Ladies” faction planning to recruit staff to the council. According to reporting, an executive sent derisive comments about employees to the former chief executive months before either person involved in the exchange was hired into their later roles.
The accounts across outlets say the messages are being used as evidence during ICAC proceedings, with the overall focus on how staff recruitment and internal appointments may have been influenced by factional activity. The reporting characterises the “Pink Ladies” as seeking to “stack” council with people aligned with their group, and it highlights that the communications were sent earlier than the formal employment of the individuals referenced in the messages.
The sources do not present a final finding in the material summarised, but they agree that the text messages form part of ICAC’s evidence relating to alleged improper conduct connected to council staffing decisions.
