Three weeks after Anna Reynolds was set to hand over the Hobart mayoralty, nobody at the Hobart City Council can say for certain who is running the city.
Reynolds announced in June she would not contest October’s election, saying she would step down after almost eight years as lord mayor to take a role with the Global Solar Council, an international body promoting rooftop solar.
The council’s chief executive had told elected members in writing that Reynolds would step down as lord mayor on 9 August.
Three weeks on, she has still been hosting council events and issuing media releases under the title, while her deputy could not say when or whether the handover had happened.
The confusion lands at an awkward moment for the deputy, Zelinda Sherlock, who is set to lead the council into October’s election while facing a fresh police referral over a separate matter.
Last month, councillors voted 5-3 to refer allegations that Sherlock removed food and drinks from the council’s elected members’ lounge to Tasmania Police and the director of local government.
Sherlock had apologised, saying she believed the refreshments were an entitlement and that she had misunderstood council policy.
Independent legal advice, an earlier police assessment and the Integrity Commission had all previously declined to find wrongdoing.
In an email on July 3, chief executive Michael Stretton told elected members that Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds “will be stepping down from the role on Sunday 9 August 2026”.
He said Reynolds would remain a councillor for the rest of the term and that the deputy would act in the position “in accordance with the Local Government Act.”
But Reynolds has continued to act publicly under the title of lord mayor well after 9 August, including releasing a statement on the Nepal tragedy and hosting the council’s State of the City breakfast last week.
Sherlock fronted a council press conference this morning to welcome Lime e-bikes to the city.
Questioned on who was in charge, she confirmed she was acting lord mayor but could not explain when the arrangement began or why Reynolds was still using the title.
Asked three times when she took on the role and how long she had held it, Sherlock could not say.
“I’d have to go and look at the specifics of that,” she said.
A council staffer stepped in, saying Reynolds was “just away for leave” but was “coming back,” and that “it’s the lord mayor’s decision when she stands down”.
Frustrated with the lack of detail surrounding who is running the city, councillor John Kelly said other councillors he had spoken to found the situation “breathtaking” and described Reynolds’ handling of it as “appalling leadership”.
He said he and other elected members had unsuccessfully contacted Reynolds, Sherlock and council staff multiple times to seek clarity on who was leading the city.
“What organisation the size of the Hobart City Council cannot tell you what person is in charge,” Kelly said.
“The CEO doesn’t know when he’s been asked, he said it’s up to the lord mayor to tell us that.”
“The lord mayor refuses to respond to any elected member’s requests as to when she’s standing down.”
Kelly claimed the confusion was “obviously an attempt by the Lord Mayor to quieten the chatter about the Sherlock theft allegations”.
He called on the director of local government to intervene.
Meanwhile Alderman Marti Zucco has demanded the council reveal whether the lord mayoral allowance is still being paid through Reynolds’ leave, what additional pay Sherlock is receiving and the total extra cost to ratepayers.
“Ratepayers should not be left wondering whether they are effectively paying twice for the lord mayoral position,” Zucco said.
Hobart’s lord mayor is paid an annual allowance of about $145,000.
The Hobart City Council and its CEO refused to provide any clarity when contacted, saying Reynolds was the only person who could comment on the situation.
Anna Reynolds did not respond to multiple requests for comment.
