Deputy Lord Mayor Zelinda Sherlock says Code of Conduct complaint is a ‘low point’

A fiery Hobart City Council meeting that was adjourned so councillors could “cool off” saw two Code of Conduct complaints lodged. Read the fallout from the complaints.

City of Hobart councillor Dr Zelinda Sherlock. Picture: Chris Kidd

Hobart’s deputy Lord Mayor Zelinda Sherlock has described a Code of Complaint against her arising from a heated meeting – which saw a fellow alderman cautioned for his behaviour – as “an unconscionable waste of ratepayers’ money”.

Will Coats, who took the action against Dr Sherlock, said he was “shocked and disappointed” by the investigating panel’s decision to dismiss his complaint.

Marti Zucco was cautioned after a Code of Conduct complaint was made against him by Ryan Posselt for calling Dr Sherlock an ‘upstart” and making the council appear “dysfunctional”.

The complaints arose from a torrid council meeting on September 16 last year which was adjourned by Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds to allow councillors to “cool off”.

City of Hobart Alderman Marti Zucco at Tony Haigh Walk in North Hobart with murals that are in need of restoration. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Mr Coats argued he had been “publicly shamed and humiliated” by Dr Sherlock for failing to nominate for the planning committee when he had already explained his decision in an email and that she had lied by saying she had previously been on a planning committee.

Dr Sherlock said the panel found that statement about her not serving on a planning committee was “categorically untrue”.

“It’s an unconscionable waste of ratepayers’ money and acutely irresponsible to weaponise the Code of Conduct process based on a falsehood,” she said.

“Cr Coats’ allegation could have been easily dispensed with before he embarked on the expensive journey for ratepayers, by initiating proper Code of Conduct Guideline processes, or at the very least – a commonsense approach of firstly verifying his assumption.

“It’s a low point in our democratic country when a Councillor uses ratepayers’ money to seek a determination to curb one of the cornerstone aspects of democracy: questioning decisions.”

William Coats speaks at the Liberal State Conference in Devonport. PICTURE CHRIS KIDD

Mr Coats said he had never lodged a Code of Conduct complaint previously, nor had one made against him, and he did not believe the investigation was a waste of money.

“The system is there for a reason and I was genuinely shocked at the comments the panel made because the way she spoke at that meeting people would think I didn’t nominate for the committee and that I should have,” he said.

“I’m surprised by the finding and believe the panel has taken a very ‘she said’ approach rather than investigating the matter thoroughly.”

Dr Sherlock said being questioned on decisions made in politics “is about transparency and accountability”.

The panel found Mr Zucco calling Dr Sherlock an “upstart” was “disrespectful” and felt a sanction was warranted.

“It took into account mitigating factors namely the involvement of other councillors in creating the unfortunately heated circumstances which led to the adjournment of the meeting,” the panel said.

The panel decisions on the complaints will be tabled at the Hobart City Council meeting on Monday night.

Originally published as Deputy Lord Mayor Zelinda Sherlock says Code of Conduct complaint is a ‘low point’