Hobart City Council has asked the Office of Local Government and Tasmania Police to take another look at the removal of food and alcohol from the council’s elected members’ lounge by Deputy Lord Mayor Zelinda Sherlock.
Chief executive Michael Stretton sent the letter today after councillors voted 5-3 at a closed meeting on Monday night to make the referral.
The letter says council staff identified unusual stock consumption in late 2023 and early 2024, with CCTV footage showing Sherlock and an associate removing items from the lounge.
The then acting chief executive met with Sherlock in January 2024 and she apologised, saying she believed the refreshments were part of her role.
The acting CEO decided no further action was needed, partly because the policy at the time did not expressly ban taking items home.
The matter was referred to Tasmania Police in March, but police found insufficient evidence for a criminal investigation.
In a statement to Pulse, a Tasmania Police spokesperson said they “can confirm correspondence had been received and the matter is under consideration.”
The Integrity Commission and Office of Local Government were also notified but have not launched investigations.
Despite those findings, the council voted to send the matter back to authorities, with the letter saying “differing views continue to exist regarding both the conduct itself and the adequacy of the City of Hobart’s response.”
Councillor Louise Elliott said she has continually pushed the issue to ensure “accountability for what all clear-thinking people view as stealing and the sweeping of serious conduct under the carpet.”
“The former CEO did the right thing identifying Councillor Sherlock and her associate as culprits but they should have referred the matter immediately to the Director and Police as CEOs have no authority to investigate potential elected member misconduct,” she said.
“The damning CCTV footage and emails showing staff disgusted in Cr Sherlock’s conduct were hidden away until only recently.”
Elliott said “the double-standard that a staff member would be sacked for far less weighs heavily on me.”
Councillor Marti Zucco rejected Sherlock’s characterisation of the saga as a witch hunt, calling her apology “crocodile tears.”
“All the excuses under the sun have been used,” he said.
“We know it was bagfuls of product being taken after hours.”
Zucco said if the matter had been dealt with properly in 2024, “none of us would be debating it at this point in time.”
He also raised concerns about staff who witnessed the behaviour, saying two employees had since left the organisation.
“Zelinda Sherlock has created the problem, right? And now is crying crocodile tears,” he said.
Councillor Ryan Posselt, who moved the motion at Monday night’s meeting, took a more measured approach.
Posselt said the matter showed “poor judgment” that was “not befitting of the role of Deputy Lord Mayor” but said council was not the right body to pass judgment.
“We are not judge, jury and executioner and we live in a world where you’re innocent until proven guilty,” he said.
“Providing ongoing commentary on matters like that while they’re, while they’re before independent authorities is not responsible, nor is it befitting of the office of councillors to do that, any of the councilors to be doing that.”
Posselt said the response from some colleagues had gone too far, saying “what they have done is create a kangaroo court of public judgment without all of the information for the public to be fully informed.”
Sherlock told ABC Radio Hobart she “unreservedly apologise” for her actions but described the ongoing scrutiny as a “political assassination.”
“I do feel bullied, I feel harassed, I feel targeted,” she said.
Sherlock is set to become acting lord mayor next month when Anna Reynolds steps aside ahead of council elections.
Zelinda Sherlock was contacted for comment prior to publication of this story.
