Anna Reynolds has sensationally reversed her decision to step down as lord mayor of Hobart in August, ending weeks of confusion over who was running the city, Pulse can reveal.
Speaking to Pulse this evening, Reynolds said she had changed her mind and would stay in the position for now.
“[I] changed my mind,” she told Pulse.
“I have chosen to stay in the position at this time, as is my prerogative.”
Reynolds, who is currently on a leave of absence, said she was “undecided” on whether she would continue as lord mayor until the October local government elections.
However she confirmed she would not recontest as either lord mayor or councillor – meaning she will leave the council entirely after the poll.
Asked whether allegations over Deputy Lord Mayor Zelinda Sherlock’s alleged conduct relating to food and drinks taken from Town Hall played into her decision, Reynolds said “no”.
She offered no other explanation for why she changed course.
But councillor John Kelly, who had earlier suggested the ‘radio-silence’ over who was in charge was an attempt “quieten the chatter about the Sherlock theft allegations”, was not buying it.
“Reynolds’ backflip on her decision confirms Sherlock is not a fit and proper person to hold the acting lord mayor position,” he told Pulse this evening.
Last month, councillors voted 5-3 to refer allegations that Sherlock removed food and drinks from the council’s elected members’ lounge to Tasmania Police and the director of local government.
The items, including soft drink, wine, beer, nuts and chocolates, were meant to be consumed in the lounge.
CCTV footage obtained under Right to Information showed Sherlock and a companion leaving the Town Hall with a stocked bag on two occasions and council staff had reported unexplained dwindling stock since 2023.
Sherlock has apologised, saying she believed the refreshments were an entitlement and that she had misunderstood council policy.
She has described the ongoing campaign by some councillors against her as a “political assassination” and says she will not resign.
The matter had already been examined three times before the latest referral.
Independent legal advice in January found no misconduct, Tasmania Police concluded in March there was insufficient evidence for an offence and the Integrity Commission cleared her in June.
The backflip came after Pulse earlier revealed that nobody at the Hobart City Council could say for certain who was in charge, three weeks after Reynolds was meant to hand over the role.
Reynolds announced in June she would not contest October’s election and would leave the mayoralty to take a role with the Global Solar Council, an international body promoting rooftop solar.
Chief executive Michael Stretton told elected members in a July 3 email that Reynolds “will be stepping down from the role on Sunday 9 August 2026.”
But Reynolds continued hosting council events and issuing media releases under the title well past that date, including releasing a statement on the Nepal tragedy and hosting the council’s State of the City breakfast last week.
Sherlock fronted a press conference to welcome Lime e-bikes to the city this morning and, when asked who was in charge, confirmed she was acting lord mayor but could not explain when the arrangement began.
“I’d have to go and look at the specifics of that,” she said.
A council staffer stepped in, saying Reynolds was “just away for leave” but was “coming back.”
Kelly had described the situation as “appalling leadership” and said other elected members found it “breathtaking.”
“What organisation the size of the Hobart City Council cannot tell you what person is in charge,” Kelly said.
“The CEO doesn’t know when he’s been asked, he said it’s up to the lord mayor to tell us that.”
“The lord mayor refuses to respond to any elected member’s requests as to when she’s standing down.”
He had called on the director of local government to intervene.
Marti Zucco demanded the council reveal whether the lord mayoral allowance was still being paid during Reynolds’ leave, what additional pay Sherlock was receiving and the total extra cost to ratepayers.
“Ratepayers should not be left wondering whether they are effectively paying twice for the lord mayoral position,” Zucco said.
Hobart’s Lord Mayor receives an annual allowance of more than $140,000.
Reynolds was absent from tonight’s council meeting, with Zelinda Sherlock the acting lord mayor.
