Hobart city councillors will tonight be asked to note the findings of an Ombudsman’s report that found Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds broke privacy laws.
Councillor Louise Elliot has put forward a motion asking the council to formally acknowledge both the breach and the Lord Mayor’s refusal to accept any wrongdoing.
The breach occurred in November 2023, when Reynolds leaked confidential information to activists about Elliot’s request to book a public venue for a women’s rights event.
Reynolds defended her actions in the report released by the Ombudsman, stating they were “lawful and legitimate”.
The motion also challenges a previous “unreserved public apology” the council made to Elliot before the Ombudsman’s investigation was completed.
“An unreserved apology cannot be made when the Lord Mayor continues to deny wrongdoing, let alone be apologetic for their conduct,” Elliot stated in the motion.
She also criticised the lack of communication from higher-ups about the Ombudsman’s findings, saying councillors had been left in the dark since their release.
In response, council leadership acknowledged the report’s “adverse findings” and called the situation “regrettable”.
“However, these events were now some time ago and there have been personnel and procedural change that has occurred to ensure that similar occurrences do not occur in the future,” the response read.
“The Lord Mayor has acknowledged and accepted the findings of the Ombudsman’s investigation and has agreed to undertake training on the Act.”
The council confirmed it is in the process of sourcing a relevant training program and has reviewed its employee induction processes.
More on this story: Hobart councillors demand Lord Mayor be stood down, investigated
