Launceston mayor Matthew Garwood has used a 13-minute Facebook video to explain spending on his council credit card, after reports it topped $17,000 over three years.
Right to Information documents released by City of Launceston show $17,934 was charged to the card.
The charges include thousands of dollars on alcohol, food delivery, Apple AirPods and Tommy Hilfiger shirts.
Garwood said the total worked out at just over $100 a week, which he said was needed to build relationships and opportunities for the city.
He said the figure came from card statements and did not account for reimbursements. He has not said how much he has repaid.
The largest charge was a $1,750 tab at Launceston bar Midnight Rambler in December 2023.
Garwood said it was the council Christmas event for councillors and staff, which had a $2,500 budget. He said it went on his card because the venue could not raise an invoice.
Food delivery and takeaway orders appear regularly on the card statements.
Garwood said he eats once a day. Compared with a $100-a-day travel allowance, he said his food spending would work out at $33 a day.
He said scrutiny of public money was “a must” but questioned whether the reporting had become nitpicking.
Council’s expenses policy allows meals to be claimed during council business when meals are not provided. Each claim must “clearly identify the purpose”.
He said the AirPods were bought for their translation feature on last year’s council trip to Japanese sister city Ikeda and remain council property.
He said the shirts were not polos but long-sleeved and were chosen out of respect for Japanese culture and “to hide as many tattoos as I could”.
“I haven’t owned a polo shirt since I was 14 years old,” he said.
Garwood said an $88 Adidas purchase was soccer boots for a federal versus local government match in Canberra.
“Yes, they went on the mayoral card, but I paid that back,” he said.
The alcohol charges included $50 on an espresso martini and a Long Island iced tea at Launceston Airport in September 2025.
Garwood apologised for minibar drinks, saying he understood the scrutiny of “taking a drink out of the fridge after a 12 to 16 hour day”.
“I sincerely do apologise,” he said.
He said the spending sat within council policy and was reviewed by an audit panel.
He questioned newspaper coverage of the figures, saying it had been posted online repeatedly during an election campaign when some candidates were looking for “ammunition”.
“I have no problem with scrutiny. I have no problem being questioned, but it has to be balanced and it has to be fair,” he said.
“If it was in public interest, it wouldn’t be behind a paywall.”
A City of Launceston spokesperson told the ABC the council could not comment on individual transactions.
“Council has recently reviewed and strengthened its governance framework in this area [through] updates to both the credit card policy and the councillor expenses policy,” the spokesperson said.
“Where questions about a transaction arise, further information is sought by the cardholder and reimbursement may occur where appropriate.”
“Following that process, a cardholder may elect to reimburse the council for an expense, in part or in full.”
In August, council stopped councillors claiming alcohol while travelling.
Garwood is running for mayor again at the October local government elections.
