CCTV footage of Deputy Lord Mayor Zelinda Sherlock removing items from Town Hall will be released, with the council refusing to hide her identity.
A council officer approved the release of seven recordings on Wednesday in response to a right to information application from Councillor Louise Elliot.
The clips, recorded on January 7 and 10, 2024, run from 12 seconds to five and a half minutes.
According to the decision notice, Sherlock and the second person shown both objected to the footage being released in full.
“The first individual has also submitted that her preference would be for her identity to be completely redacted if the recordings are released,” the notice said.
It said she made the request out of concern for her personal safety, including the possibility of “further abuse or threats of violence”.
The council refused the request, finding her identity was already widely known after unredacted still images from the same recordings were released and widely circulated in July.
Her associate, a private individual, will be blacked out throughout, but bags and other items they carry will remain visible.
The council found the strongest reason for release was accountability for its handling of the matter, which “has itself become the subject of considerable public scrutiny”.
The notice accepted the video added only “relatively modest” new information beyond the stills.
Material provided during consultation included evidence of a threat of physical violence and personal abuse after the still images were released.
In a social media post, Elliot said Sherlock had argued the footage should not be released because the matter had been “dealt with” and the information was provided “in confidence”.
The notice rejected that argument.
Elliot said she suspected the videos would “come out in the end” and that the matter showed “two-tier treatment in the council”.
“Just because someone is in the ruling majority faction and a leftie, doesn’t make them immune,” she wrote.
The still images showed two people making two trips on each date, entering with an empty bag and leaving with a full one.
Internal emails released at the same time showed staff recorded sparkling wine, beer, soft drinks, chocolate and nuts going missing within 48 hours of restocking in January 2024.
In July, a council letter to police said CCTV showed Sherlock and an associate removing items from the lounge.
A 2024 handover memo from then acting chief executive Neil Noye said Sherlock believed the refreshments were “fringe benefits” and no further action was taken.
Police previously found insufficient evidence to proceed, but the council voted 5-3 at a closed meeting in July to refer the matter to Tasmania Police and the Office of Local Government.
In late July, Sherlock unreservedly apologised but described the scrutiny as a “political assassination”.
The footage will be released after 10 working days unless a review is sought.
Sherlock did not respond to Pulse’s request for comment.
