Former Shire of Bridgetown-Greenbushes chief executive Nicole Gibbs has filed a defamation lawsuit over four statements made by a shire resident on social media.
Former Shire of Bridgetown-Greenbushes chief executive Nicole Gibbs has filed a defamation lawsuit over four statements made by a shire resident on social media.
In a writ lodged in the Supreme Court of WA, Ms Gibbs referred to four statements allegedly made by Susanne Woodall; three of which were allegedly made on the Shire of Bridgetown-Greenbushes Facebook page between September 2024 and January 2025; and one which was allegedly made on Ms Woodall's personal Facebook page in October 2024.
It's unclear what was said in the statements.
The lawsuit came after Ms Gibbs left her post as the Shire's chief executive in January 2025.
At the time, the Manjimup Bridgetown Times reported Ms Gibbs' lawyer, Carmel Galati, indicated in a letter Ms Gibbs intended to pursue defamation complaints against the Shire.
Those intentions, Ms Galati said, followed a notice published on the Shire Facebook page on January 29 or 30, which allegedly defamed Ms Gibbs.
The day before that statement was allegedly made, on January 28, a special council meeting was held.
A confidential "matter affecting an employee or employees" was discussed during that special meeting.
It is unknown whether the case against Ms Woodall was related to the threatened action against the Shire.
Ms Gibbs was first appointed to the role in October 2023. She was previously the chief executive of the Shire of Quairading.
Prior to that, Ms Gibbs had led a national social housing stimulus package at the Department of Housing, and served as director of Aboriginal Housing Services.
