The Canberra Institute of Technology chief executive has been told to "get on with it" after delays in a court case she initiated against her previous employer.
In the NSW Supreme Court on Thursday, July 9, Registrar Jennifer Hedge said Dr Margot McNeill "needs to be working on [her] evidence and submissions".
"This is her application and she needs to get on with it."
Dr McNeill is suing TAFE NSW after being terminated from her previous role. The exact details of the case are unknown at this stage.
Dr McNeill has been embroiled in controversy since she began as the CIT chief executive in June 2025.
She did not disclose that she was under investigation by her previous employer during the CIT recruitment process.
That investigation found she had breached the TAFE NSW code of conduct and led to her resignation being changed to termination.
A lawyer, appearing for Dr McNeill on Thursday, said the case had been delayed due to the chief executive's "medical issues" and involvement in several inquiries into her conduct.
He said his solicitors "have had, unfortunately, trouble getting instructions from her".
He told the court there was "good reason" for the delays and he was "very hopeful" Dr McNeill would be able to progress matters.
The defence said they had not received the particulars of the allegations against TAFE NSW and the grounds of the case had been "very brief" in a summons.
"The only party that is benefiting by the respondents delay is the plaintiff. The defence are still in the dark," the lawyer said.
The court heard TAFE NSW might seek to dismiss the case if the particulars of the allegations were not provided.
The registrar adjourned the case to next month but said any further delays would need to be explained in an affidavit by Dr McNeill.
The Canberra Times recently revealed that Dr McNeill had been absent from her role for at least two weeks. The board chair later wrote to CIT staff to say the chief executive was on leave and that the board was stepping in for her usual duties.
It is not known the exact reason for her leave and if it is connected to delays in the NSW Supreme Court case.
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