Former Adelaide City councillor Anne Moran considers running for Central Ward position

She was once one of Adelaide’s most well-known and outspoken councillors. Now she’s considering a comeback, claiming she’s learnt her lesson.

Local government veteran Anne Moran. Picture: Emma Brasier

One of Adelaide City Council’s longest serving and most controversial councillors is considering a comeback, claiming she’s learnt her lesson from a previous disruptive term.

Anne Moran is “interested” in vying for one of four Central Ward seats which were last month vacated after the 2022 election was found to have been affected by “illegal practices”.

“I’m definitely interested and, at the very least, I’ll throw any influence I can behind an independent,” Ms Moran told The Advertiser.

The 27-year local government veteran failed to be re-elected in 2022, after a term dominated by infighting between the voting bloc she dubbed “Team Adelaide” and the independents.

“The independents have the numbers in the chambers now, but it may change with the four seats going up for grabs,” Ms Moran said.

“The worst case for the last year (of this council term) would be for it to be in the hands of the very extreme right of Team Adelaide.”

Phillip Martin, Anne Moran and Hieu Van Le pictured at Adelaide Festival Centre's 50th anniversary celebration in 2023. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe

Adelaide City councillors elected in 2022: Jing Li, Mark Siebentritt, Simon Hou, Arman Abrahimzadeh, David Elliott, Carmel Noon, Lord Mayor Jane Lomax-Smith, Janet Giles, Henry Davis, Philip Martin, Mary Corous, Keiran Snape. Picture: City of Adelaide

The Team Adelaide tag was regularly rejected by the group, which had consisted of Alexander Hyde, Franz Knoll, Simon Hou and current councillors Mary Couros and Arman Abrahimzadeh.

“The last council suffered ... it does seem to be much improved having sensible people there, but there has still been poor behaviour from some councillors,” she said.

“Debate shouldn’t be criticised, but councillors calling the Lord Mayor a liar – we never did that.”

During the previous term, Ms Moran and councillor Phillip Martin were named in a damning report into the council’s toxic culture, which detailed her frequent emails to councillors and staff had caused workplace stress.

Ms Moran believed the report should never have been released as it “denied them procedural fairness” as she was “never interviewed” and said: “I suffered politically from it”.

“I regret some things and if I had my time again I’d temper my behaviour,” she said.

“I wouldn’t rise to the debate so easily, or put anything in email.

“I’ve learnt to keep your mouth shut unless you have to (speak).”

Ms Moran was formerly an Area Councillor and she and her husband have downsized from a North Adelaide heritage-listed home to the CBD.

Alexander Hyde. Picture Matt Turner.

Ironically, Ms Moran’s most vocal opponent was Mr Hyde whose successful court challenge was the reason four council positions were now vacant.

Nominations to fill the Central Ward vacancy open on June 26, until July 10.

Mr Hyde ruled out a return to Town Hall saying while he still cared “passionately” about the city, “it had been consistently let down by poor decision making and representation”.

“I’ve done what I can to be part of the solution, but it’s now up to others to assume the mantle of responsibility,” he said.

Of the Central Ward councillors to lose their position, Carmel Noon and David Elliott will re-contest the by-election, while Simon Hou will not. Jing Li was contacted for comment.