City of Melbourne Lord Mayor by-election: hopeful Jennifer Yang pledges two-year booze ban

A FORMER suburban mayor who has joined the race for the top job at Melbourne Town Hall has pledged to ban booze at all city council events if she wins.

A FORMER mayor who has joined the lord mayoral race has pledged to ban booze at all council events if she wins.

Jennifer Yang, who unsuccessfully ran for a Senate seat in the 2016 Federal election, will run for Lord Mayor in the May by-election.

Ms Yang, a former Manningham mayor and current councillor, said she was “committed” to changing Melbourne Council’s boozy reputation.

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“I’m committed to ending the boozy culture — if councillors want to get drunk and have lavish meals, they should do so in their own time and using their own money,” she said.

“This ban will extend not just to meetings and dinners, but to all official events for a period of two years to send a message that we’re focused on the people of Melbourne.”

Ms Yang took to Facebook to reveal her plans for the top job at Town Hall a fortnight ago.

“I’m excited to announce that I’m running to be the next Lord Mayor of Melbourne. I am running to give residents a voice again and to bring small business back into the heart of council decision-making,” she said.

Ms Yang faced heavy criticism in 2016, when the then-Mayor announced plans to run for a spot in the Upper House.

“Many residents have told me that they believe the mayoral car, salary and indeed position should be given up by Cr Yang while her focus is elsewhere — indeed while she has clearly flagged that she wants a different job,” Warrandyte state Liberal MP Ryan Smith then said.

The postal by-election to elect the new Lord Mayor will be held next month.