Two Newcastle Independent councillors say they requested leave from Tuesday's council meeting before the event and were not dodging the TV crew that turned up.
The council's Labor majority passed a motion at the start of the meeting pointedly declining to grant leave of absence to Independents Allan Robinson, Kath Elliott and John Church.
Deputy lord mayor Declan Clausen moved that "apologies be accepted for all councillors and leave of absences be granted to councillors [John] Mackenzie and [Andrea] Rufo, who provided advanced advice of their absence from this evening's meeting".
The motion gave the impression that councillors Robinson, Elliott and Church had not requested leave of absence, but both Cr Elliott and Cr Church provided the Newcastle Herald with evidence they had given notice they would not be present.
Cr Elliott sent an email to acting chief executive Ken Liddell at 11.31am on Monday requesting leave to care for a sick relative.
Mr Liddell confirmed in an email to Cr Elliott on Wednesday that he had passed on her request to "Councillor Services and the Lord Mayor's office".
Cr Church sent an email at 9.17am on Tuesday seeking leave of absence due to illness.
Cr Clausen and lord mayor Nuatali Nelmes said on Thursday the council was not obliged to grant leave of absence.
Cr Clausen said he was unaware the two Independents had given notice but had "no qualms" about denying them leave.
"It was pretty clear it was a coordinated stunt to deprive the meeting of a quorum," he said.
The Labor councillors and Cr Mackenzie (Greens) had tabled a motion condemning "language and behaviour that is sexist and homophobic, including recent comments attributed to Councillor Allan Robinson".
A camera crew from Network Ten panel show The Project was at Tuesday's meeting to shoot footage of Cr Robinson after he referred to homosexuals as "p--fs" in media interviews and likened a female councillor to "Jessie the elephant" during a council debate.
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