Melbourne’s limo-loving Lord Mayor Sally Capp takes ratepayers for $31,000 ride

Sally Capp promised to walk, cycle or take public transport when elected in 2018. But ratepayers have forked out a huge sum for her private chauffeur-driven service.

Melbourne Lord Mayor Sally Capp in the back of a ratepayer-funded limo.

Melbourne Lord Mayor Sally Capp has racked up more than $30,000 in chauffeur-driven limousine trips in a year, as well as taking a ratepayer-funded ride in a luxury BMW to this year’s AFL Grand Final.

Cr Capp scrapped Town Hall’s mayoral limousine when elected in 2018, saying she would cycle, walk or use public transport as much as possible while on official business.

But documents obtained under Freedom of Information laws reveal Cr Capp regularly catches a private limo, often booked for hours at a time, and almost daily.

The revelations come at a time when the council has encouraged cycling and walking around the city, converting CBD road space into bike lanes, prompting calls for Cr Capp, who has been accused of having a sense of entitlement, to repay the money.

Melbourne Lord Mayor Sally Capp arrives at the 2023 AFL Grand Final on September 30 in a chauffeur-driven BMW.

Cr Capp, who receives a $253,920 annual allowance courtesy of ratepayers, has travelled in style to the Melbourne Cup twice and also to Oaks Day at Flemington in 2022.

Her limo travel log included:

• On September 30, Cr Capp was ferried to the MCG to watch her beloved Collingwood win the 2023 flag in a BMW 330i.

• On November 7, the Lord Mayor was driven to Flemington racecourse by limo on Cup morning.

• On August 16, Cr Capp was chauffeur driven into the city to watch the Matildas’ World Cup semi-final.

• On February 15, the Lord Mayor arrived by limo at the Moomba monarchs’ official announcement near the Yarra boatsheds – just a short walk from Town Hall. The 650m trip cost the public purse $93.

Cr Capp’s limousine travel for the 12 months between July 2022 and June 30 this year cost $31,636.

Cr Capp has promoted e-scooter use in the city while taking more limos.

Melbourne Lord Mayor Sally Capp catches a limo to cheer on the Matildas during the 2023 Women's World Cup finals.

Some bookings were for longer periods, such as the more than four-hour booking on May 31 which cost $321.

The council was often billed for time surcharges, indicating bookings after business hours, and also “wait fees” of up to $35 a time.

Cr Capp took a total of 53 limousine trips in March alone, costing more than $5000.

Mr Capp’s limousine travel amounted to more than $86 per day.

Former Lord Mayor Robert Doyle spent an average of $240 a day on a luxury LPG-powered Holden Caprice and driver prior to 2018.

In 2018, Cr Capp said she was selling off the mayoral limousine used by her predecessor Robert Doyle because she wanted to travel “in a way that more accurately reflects the experience of all Melburnians”.

“That’s why I’ll be walking, cycling, using public transport and driving my own car to and from work and official events,” she told the Herald Sun.

“I’ll still on occasion use a car service, on an as-needs basis, when that is the most appropriate and efficient transport option.”

Cr Capp (right) arrives by limo at the 2023 Melbourne Cup.

Lord Mayor Sally Capp (centre) arrives by limo on February 15 for the 2023 Moomba Monarch announcement, with Rob Mills and Rhonda Burchmore.

Avoiding inner city car travel is also council policy with its own website stating: “Melbourne’s public transport is the easiest and best way to get around the city.’’

A limousine was often photographed parked on the footpath outside Town Hall on Swanston St, waiting for mayoral duties.

Former long-serving city councillor Peter Clarke described the Lord Mayor’s spending on luxury transport as ridiculous and entitled.

“Sally Capp is still living in a bygone era of privilege and entitlement as a Lord Mayor,’’ Mr Clarke said.

“There would be very few events outside the City of Melbourne that you couldn’t access by public transport or indeed your own vehicle.

“This is typical of those who get caught up in senior levels of government and lose perspective.’’

The chauffer-driven car on the footpath outside Town Hall.

Cr Capp arrives at the 2020 Moomba Monarch announcement with Julia Morris and Nazeem Hussein.

Cr Capp, who has just returned from the COP28 climate conference in Dubai, was asked to comment.

Instead, a spokesman from her office issued a statement saying that “significant demands and expectations” were placed on councillors for their civic and statutory functions.

“Consistent with the Lord Mayor’s 2018 campaign promise, the Lord Mayor has not employed a full-time driver – resulting in significant savings to council.’’

The statement said that Cr Capp’s travel to official engagements included the limo service, her own car, walking, the use of public transport as well as e-scooters and e-bikes.

“The AFL Grand Final, Spring Carnival, Moomba and the FIFA World Cup are flagship events for the City of Melbourne that required the Lord Mayor’s attendance in a professional capacity.’’

The number of Cr Capp’s official engagements have increased in the past 18 months as part of the city’s post-Covid recovery, the statement said.

Council had reduced its operational emissions by 78 per cent over the past decade, the statement said, and carbon offsets were bought to mitigate emissions, including for councillor travel.

But Council Watch president Dean Hurlston said Cr Capp should repay the costs.

“Sally Capp using a limo paid for on the public dime shows the entrenched and entitled culture of Town Hall.

“Cr Capp isn’t living the climate change values she is expecting of Melburnians. She should pay the costs back, take a tram, or use an electric bike.’’

Originally published as Melbourne’s limo-loving Lord Mayor Sally Capp takes ratepayers for $31,000 ride