A Hobart City Council meeting descended into chaos on Monday night as councillors clashed over proposed governance changes and the structure of the planning committee.
The drama unfolded three hours into Monday’s meeting when Deputy Lord Mayor Zelinda Sherlock said it was “disappointing” some councillors had not nominated for the refreshed planning committee.
The new structure involves seven appointed members who must attend, while the remaining councillors can come and go as they see fit.
“I’m saddened that more people didn’t put their hand up,” Sherlock said.
Her comments sparked a fiery response from colleagues around the table, with Councillor Will Coats accusing Sherlock of making “offensive” remarks.
Alderman Marti Zucco then began to talk about a confidential letter being sent to the Director of Local Government, before he was warned to be “pretty careful” about his words by Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds.
“I don’t need any upstart to tell me how I vote and not vote,” he said, as he signalled at Sherlock.
“I don’t have to stand here and give any reason to the Deputy, [Lord Mayor], the CEO or members of the public why I do or do not want to put my hand up for a committee.”
“I represent the community of Hobart, not any elected member around the table, not the CEO or any staff member.”
The Lord Mayor had to call for calm and said Zucco’s conduct and the calling of names was inappropriate.
“You’re disrupting this meeting and you’re behaving badly,” Reynolds told Zucco, who said: “I’m not apologising. Throw me out. Code of Conduct please.”
“Can I ask that you please stop disrupting the meeting,” the Lord Mayor said.
The situation escalated further a short time later when Zucco accused Councillor Mike Dutta of telling him to “grow up,” while Dutta claimed Zucco had sworn at him.
“He just told me to grow up and I told him to grow up himself,” Zucco said.
The Lord Mayor again intervened and passed the discussion to Councillor John Kelly, who expressed feeling “humiliated, publicly vilified and shamed” by Sherlock’s “disgraceful comment”.
“Here she is tonight naming and shaming those. She has no reason, no reason whatsoever to say those comments. She doesn’t know my personal situations,” he said.
“Someone’s disgraceful behaviour has brought this meeting to its knees. Well done Deputy Lord Mayor. Shame on you. Shame.”
The meeting was adjourned for five minutes to allow tensions to cool, before Councillor Louise Elliot explained her reasons for not nominating.
“To be frank, I need to minimise my contact with the seven of you. I cannot be around nastiness, the patronisation, the condescending, the elitist attitude, so morally superior … I can’t be around hypocrites,” she said.
The Lord Mayor once more attempted to halt the conversation, saying Elliot was getting “personal” towards “identifiable” councillors.
Elliot responded by saying she was simply giving an “honest answer”.
“No need to minimise it. It’s damaging. I’ve copped so much from this lot for nearly two years. It’s just horrible. I’m sick to death of it,” she said.
The revised structure was eventually approved by councillors Mike Dutta, Ryan Posselt, Gemma Kitsos, Ben Lohberger, Bill Harvey, Zelinda Sherlock and Anna Reynolds.
