The Hobart City Council should spend less time on “culture wars” and more time focused on the basics, a former greater Hobart mayor says.
Dean Winter, who now leads the Tasmanian Labor party, made the suggestion after the state’s Ombudsman found Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds broke privacy laws.
Reynolds intentionally leaked what should have been confidential personal information of fellow councillor Louise Elliot to activists and claimed to have done it for “lawful and legitimate purposes”.
“The thing I’d say about the City of Hobart council is it feels like they’re always talking about something that’s not their job,” said Winter, who became Kingborough Council’s youngest mayor in 2018 at age 33.
“I think the best councils are the ones that focus on the basics – on roads, rates, rubbish, getting things done for their community.”
“When people see them moving away from that, they get frustrated because we all know in our local communities that we want things to get better.”
Winter said internal “cultural wars” were unhelpful.
“It doesn’t help their community. It’s not what they’re there and elected for,” he said.
“I’d urge Hobart city councillors to focus on the basics.”
Reynolds and other elected members will undergo training on privacy laws and policies, as recommended by the Ombudsman.
