Rod Oxley: ICAC, Beth and my fight for justice

Former Wollongong City Council general manager Rod Oxley has revealed that he has written a book to defend himself against Independent Commission Against Corruption findings of corrupt conduct.One year after publicly vowing to fight to restore his reputation, Mr Oxley is on the verge of releasing a tell-all book about one of the most explosive episodes to rock local government in Australia. While he remained tight-lipped on the fine detail, it is known the book will look at his 20-years at the helm of the council, the goings-on during the tumultuous period leading up to an ICAC raid on the council in 2006, and the devastating personal impact of the ICAC findings against him.It is also likely to give some insight into the role played by council planner Beth Morgan, who made global headlines after revelations about her secret affairs with developers, lavish gifts and saucy emails. In his final report on investigations into Wollongong City Council, ICAC Commissioner Jerrold Cripps found Mr Oxley had engaged in corrupt conduct - "conduct that was liable to allow, encourage or cause the occurrence of corrupt conduct". However, he did not recommend any criminal charges against Mr Oxley or council planner John Gilbert, who was also found to have engaged in corrupt conduct.Mr Oxley revealed exclusively to the Mercury this week that he had investigated all possible avenues of clearing his name. "I was devastated by the implications of the findings and the impact on me for my future," he said."That black stain was not something I ever contemplated or thought I deserved. I looked at whether I could challenge the findings but there was no right of appeal."He considered legal action to request a review of the findings to ensure ICAC had "conveyed natural justice". But he ruled out a legal challenge because of the personal toll it could take."There would be financial and emotional costs attached to that. A lot of the issues were likely to re-emerge in the public domain," he said."The alternative was for me to tell my story from my perspective and the idea of writing a book emerged earlier this year."Mr Oxley engaged former council communications manager Neryl East to write the book. Ms East, who left the council in June 2007, is now media and communications manager at Shellharbour City Council which, like Wollongong, is in the hands of an administrator."I have maintained contact with a number of former colleagues and over a cup of coffee one day, we were talking about these matters and it was a genesis of that," Mr Oxley said.He is under no illusions that the book, written in the form of a biography, will clear his name and said nothing could undo the damage done by the ICAC findings."The book won't change the findings but I am hoping, by people reading my side of the story, they might not be so judgmental. It might even up the ledger a bit," he said."The findings have had a profound effect on my reputation and my standing."It has caused some people and some organisations to retreat or be wary of being associated with me."Nobody has ever said anything (insulting) to my face. But I have a sense some people would rather avoid me."He commented that while motorists who committed a driving offence would lose their licence for a fixed period, the adverse findings against him had no expiry date."The findings I have had against me are ongoing and long-lasting. There doesn't seem to be any period of finality other than the passage of time," he said.Since the findings, Mr Oxley has stepped down from many public roles. The trademark moustache and business suit have gone, replaced by a more relaxed figure who enjoys a coffee and the laidback atmosphere of Balgownie cafe Urban Grind, near his home.He said a circle of long-time friends had stood by and supported him. And he is devoting more time to community work with Wollongong Rotary and the St George Illawarra Dragons.The title of the book will remain secret until it hits the shelves. It has been cleared by editors and lawyers and is now with the printer, ahead of an expected release date before the end of the year.