Hobart councillors have voted to retain free parking across the city, rejecting a motion that argued the entitlement was “unfair” to ratepayers who must pay to park.
Councillor Ben Lohberger introduced the motion at Monday night’s council meeting, his second attempt after a tied vote in 2023.
“Ratepayers and taxpayers in general, I believe, are really sick of seeing politicians making rules and then exempting themselves from those same rules,” he said.
Under the current system, councillors are issued permits allowing free parking at council-controlled meters and off-street car parks, in addition to access to a reserved space at the Town Hall car park.
Lohberger said the reserved parking was sufficient and councillors should pay for street parking like other residents.
The motion was voted down, with only Lohberger, lord mayor Anna Reynolds, deputy lord mayor Zelinda Sherlock and councillor Ryan Posselt supporting it.
Alderman Marti Zucco said processing individual parking reimbursements would be more costly, estimating a $5.60 claim would cost about $34 to administer once staff time and transaction costs were included.
“Is this a perk? Under any business, under any politician, [you] are entitled to reimbursement of costs,” he said.
“It is legislated. We are entitled to reimbursement of costs.”
Councillor Louise Elliot described the motion as “shallow thinking and media headline hunting”, while Alderman Louise Bloomfield said councillors should view the permits with “a point of generosity”.
“We are afforded this privilege of the free parking for attending to our job … those who attend more to the job will obviously use it more,” she said.
Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds suggested an alternative approach, proposing a council EasyPark business account to automatically track and pay for councillors’ parking, improving transparency while reducing administrative burden.
The idea drew interest but was not put as a formal amendment.
Council staff had backed keeping the permits, noting they support councillors attending site visits and meeting constituents.
Lohberger said he stood by the motion.
“Our convenience doesn’t really justify excluding ourselves from the parking arrangements that we force upon everyone else,” he said.
“This is a convenience for us that looks super unfair from outside council.”
