Hobart councillor Bill Harvey says bullying and online abuse are driving good candidates away from local government and he believes councils will struggle to fill seats if nothing changes.
The Greens councillor, who is running for lord mayor, says colleagues and candidates across the state need to lift their conduct in the chamber and online.
Council decisions on rates, parking, bike lanes and development routinely draw heated public reaction, much of it now thrashed out in the comments section.
Harvey says a lot of that crosses the line into abuse.
“We are already seeing people decline to run because of poor behaviour and fear of being trolled on social media,” Harvey said.
“We recently lost two experienced mayors who cited bullying and social media comments as reasons to leave.”
“If this continues, [we] will struggle to attract suitable candidates.”
Harvey says councillors should be the ones setting the standard.
“Councillors experienced and new must act respectfully inside and outside the council chamber,” he said.
He said councils had been warned a number of times by the local government minister and the director of local government to stop the “bickering” and get on with governing.
A 2024 Local Government Association of Tasmania survey of the state’s 29 councils found 78% of councillors had been bullied, harassed or intimidated in the past two years.
Of those who said they would not stand in the 2026 elections, almost half blamed the toxic behaviour they had copped from the public.
Harvey told ABC Radio on June 2 that councils should turn off online comments and hold more town hall meetings where debate could be better managed.
“There’s no need to comment on everything and give every person the opportunity to have a go,” he said.
Local Government Minister Kerry Vincent has previously stressed the need for respect.
“Elected representatives play an important role in shaping our local communities and everyone has the right to work without hostility,” Vincent said.
“Respect is a two-way street, and my expectation is the community and their elected officials treat each other with professionalism and kindness.”
