The Hobart City Council has spent more than $135,000 on legal matters involving a sitting councillor and a relative, new figures show.
More than half of that was spent on a discrimination case brought by councillor Louise Elliot, which the council admitted to and apologised for two years ago.
A council report included in the agenda for Monday’s meeting puts the bill at $135,265.35, excluding GST, across three matters.
The largest share, $74,824.80, relates to Elliot’s complaint against the council and a number of current and former elected members and staff.
The case dates back to September 2023, when Elliot tried to book the Town Hall ballroom as a private citizen for a forum on women’s rights and free speech. Staff told her no dates were available.
An independent investigation later found staff had blocked the booking because they assumed views about transgender people would be discussed.
It also found staff had intentionally failed to fully comply with a right to information request lodged by Elliot.
City of Hobart chief executive Michael Stretton formally apologised to Elliot in July 2024.
In a separate report in 2025, the state ombudsman found outgoing Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds had breached personal information laws by texting an LGBTIQA+ rights advocate that Elliot was trying to book the venue.
Reynolds accepted the findings, saying at the time she had acted because she believed the booking was discriminatory.
Part of the complaint has since been settled, while other parts remain before the Tasmanian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (TASCAT).
The council also spent $32,155.55, including investigation costs, defending a workplace complaint Elliot made against a former senior employee.
Another $28,285 was spent on discrimination and related claims brought by one of Elliot’s relatives. Those matters have since been settled.
The true cost is likely higher, with the report saying the council is unable to disclose confidential settlement payments or defence costs paid directly by its insurer.
In a Facebook post, Elliot said the council’s attempts to deny discrimination had cost around $100,000 in legal fees.
“Over $100,000 has been spent defending discrimination, breaking privacy laws, breaking right to information laws, the subsequent attempted coverup and breach of contract,” she wrote.
“They spent a big bucket of money trying to pretend they did nothing wrong.”
Elliot said she was not sure how much had been covered by insurance.
“Basic ethics tells you that what they did was wrong, yet they spent up big trying to defend the indefensible,” she said.
“This is what happens when ideology and institutional arrogance get ahead of common sense, good governance and respect for the law.”
Elliot, who is standing for deputy lord mayor at next month’s election, said the council “must not discriminate and stop the constant coverups”.
“And when it makes a mistake, admit it, apologise and quickly rectify it,” she said.
The figures were compiled after councillor Ryan Posselt, who is running for lord mayor, asked for them at the council’s January meeting as a “matter of public interest”.
