Claire Richardson starts petition calling for election of new Launceston council
The fallout from a photograph posted by Launceston Mayor Matthew Garwood continues. The latest development.
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Launceston mayor Matthew Garwood is believed to be considering his future as a petition is started to have a new council elected.
A no-confidence motion in Mr Garwood was passed at the council’s meeting on Thursday night in the wake of his social media post where he was pictured with American rocker Ronnie Radke, who served more than two years in prison for violating probation conditions and was arrested for domestic violence and assault in 2012.
In the wake of criticism of the mayor’s post, Mr Radke posted Instagram reels attacking and threatening two female councillors who said they feared for their safety and did not attend Thursday’s council meeting.
In a social media post on Friday, Mr Garwood said he was “still processing” the no confidence motion.
“I’m not a political, (sic) I’m a person,” he wrote.
“I see incredible potential and momentum in my hometown and have given it more than my all.
“I’m not sure that I can achieve that potential and make the desperately needed generational changes required.
“Perhaps I’m the one with no confidence.”
Invermay resident Claire Richardson has started a petition saying only the two councillors who objected to the no confidence motion Joe Pintarich and Dr George Razay and Suzie Cai, who abstained, should remain on council.
Ms Richardson said was disappointed in councillors who she had voted for and who had attended a meeting she organised prior to the last council election.
“I feel let down that politics is being put before the more pressing issues we have in Launceston, such as homelessness and uncapped Airbnbs,” she said.
“The council should be focused on delivering for the people of Launceston, not trying to persecute the mayor who has been such a breath of fresh air for this town.
“The way in which the motion was presented, to override the entire meeting, distracted from other questions members of the public had about other matters.”
Ms Richardson said she hoped her petition, which has attracted more than 2600 signatures, would be presented at the next council meeting.
She urged people to sign the petition.
“If these people no longer represent you, or your values, please sign this petition to have them formally stood down, and a new council election called for Launceston, with a full investigation into why bullying and toxicity in a workplace is happening in 2025,” she wrote.
Councillor Tim Walker, who moved the no confidence motion, and Andrea Dawkins, who did not attend Thursday’s meeting amid safety concerns, declined to comment further on the issue.
Mr Garwood also was contacted for comment.
The government says the no confidence motion is “a matter for the council”.
A spokeswoman said the Local Government Minister had no power to intervene.
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