Jonathan Sriranganathan to make run for Brisbane Lord Mayor at next council election

Controversial former Greens councillor Jonathan Sriranganathan will make a run for Lord Mayor at next year’s council election, with party members saying it’s making the LNP “nervous”.

Controversial former Greens councillor Jonathan Sriranganathan will make a run for Lord Mayor at next year’s council election.

Mr Sriranganathan posted on Facebook this morning it “wasn’t a decision I’ve come to lightly”.

“But after thinking deeply about Australia’s current political context and the most viable pathways towards deep transformational change, I think we have a huge opportunity here in Brissie,” he said.

“Council decisions shape almost every aspect of our lives, from where we live, how we move around and who we connect with on a regular basis.”

He went on to say he was “not just running to win votes and seats – I don’t believe that deep, lasting change comes through the ballot box alone”.

“I think it comes from a multifaceted strategy where different parts of our movement work together and build each other up,” he said.

Former Greens councillor Jonathan Sriranganathan joins race to become Brisbane’s mayor. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dan Peled

Mr Sriranganathan said he had chosen to enter the race for Mayor to enact “deep systematic change”.

“Because I believe a better world is possible,” he said.

“We need deep systemic change if we are to address major issues like the housing crisis, unstable transport systems and worsening global warming.”

Mr Sriranganathan told the ABC on Wednesday morning “house prices have to fall”, and should he be successful in his run for Lord Mayor he would push for a vacancy levy.

Asked about the ongoing housing crisis he said there were a lot of people who invested in investment properties because “that’s what the government told them to do” and “the system itself needs to change”.

“We are not going to get on top of the homelessness crisis unless we get housing costs down,” he said,

“That doesn’t just mean a vague appeal about affordable housing, it means that rents and house prices have to fall.

“And maybe we do want to be looking at targeted rate incentives to support that, but the point is that we need big, deep change – we can’t just tinker about the edges.”

Greens Federal member for Griffith Max Chandler-Mather said if Mr Sriranganathan claimed the Lord Mayorship, it would be “the biggest electoral upset in Greens history”.

“I think the LNP are going to face the most fierce opposition campaign they have faced since they were elected,” he said.

Greens member for Griffith Max Chandler-Mather during Question Time at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Responding to comments made by the LNP about his campaign announcement, Mr Sriranganathan said the LNP were simply nervous about losing seats.

“It’s disappointing that the LNP have already resorted to personal attacks, rather than a mature policy debate and I think it tells us a lot about how nervous they are about losing seats.

“It is frankly weird that we have political parties at local council and I would like to get to a point where all councillors feel like they’re a part of a collaborative team, rather than just toeing the party line and obstructing each other’s good ideas.”

Councillor Fiona Cunningham, who the LNP on Wednesday designated to speak on behalf of the Schrinner Council, refused to say whether the party was concerned about losing seats to the Greens.

Cr Cunningham dodged media questions about how Mr Sriranganathan’s candidacy would affect the LNP’s chances of re-election, instead repeatedly referring to “a Greens and Labor coalition of chaos”.

But when asked whether there was any evidence of a Greens and Labor coalition – about which Mr Sriranganathan has spoken in the past – Cr Cunningham said “Labor usually preferences the Greens”.

“Everyone needs to be worried about the future of the greens Labor coalition,” she said, while repeatedly saying Mr Sriranganathan is “the most disruptive and dangerous candidate Brisbane had seen”.

His campaign message is “giving residents control” and voters should consider him even if they don’t align with his party policy.

“I don’t think anyone would agree 100 per cent with every single Greens policy and statement, but the point is that we believe in grassroots participatory democracy.”

Jonathan Sriranganathan talking about his plans to run for Brisbane City Council Lord Mayor.

Mr Sriranganathan confirmed the Greens would not back the Olympic and Paralympic Games should he be elected as Mayor.

“I think it’s pretty obvious that the greens are not going to support an Olympics that involves destroying East Brisbane state school shutting down Raymond Park and wasting billions of dollars on a stadium when we should be building public housing,” he said.

“So we are definitely going to be holding the major parties to account forcing them to the negotiating table and call in for a community centred discussion about this.”

Mr Sriranganathan also reiterated he was opposed to the rebuild of the Gabba.

A spokesman for Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said Mr Sriranganathan’s push for the top job meant Brisbane residents now “have a choice between stability or a destructive Green/Labor coalition of chaos at the next election”.

“Our stable, experienced team is committed to keeping costs down while building the road, transport, parks and playgrounds that Brisbane’s suburbs need,” he said.

“The destructive Greens, led by a self-declared anarchist, want to defund the police, eradicate road funding and support shoplifting and breaking-and-entering.

“The destructive Greens’ dodgy power-sharing deal with Labor will create a coalition of chaos that will drive up rates, slash road spending and cut basic rubbish collection.”

Mr Sriranganathan dismissed LNP claims against him that he was a “self-declared anarchist” who wanted to defund the police and bring chaos to local government.

“It’s disappointing but not surprising that the LNP are already resorting to personal attacks, but it shows how desperate they are to cling to power,” he said.

“They know support for the LNP has collapsed so they’re lashing out, but I hope this campaign can focus on evidence-based policy discussions rather than shallow party-political posturing.”

Originally published as Jonathan Sriranganathan to make run for Brisbane Lord Mayor at next council election