Carlton champion Anthony Koutoufides to run for Melbourne lord mayor

Retired Carlton champion Anthony Koutoufides has revealed former federal Liberal MP Gladys Liu will be on his ticket in his bid to become Melbourne’s next lord mayor.

Carlton champion Anthony Koutoufides has officially launched his campaign to become Melbourne’s next lord mayor, unveiling a former Liberal MP and two high-profile property developers as members of “Team Kouta”.

The AFL legend, who flew into Melbourne on Saturday morning after travelling across Western Australia, stood outside Town Hall in the rain as he announced flamboyant former Wyndham councillor Intaj Khan as his running mate.

Former federal Liberal MP Gladys Liu and commercial property developer Zaim Ramani will also run on his independent ticket in a bid to become councillors.

Anthony Koutoufides has declared he will run for Melbourne lord mayor. Picture: David Crosling

The Herald Sun on Wednesday confirmed that Koutoufides, who played 278 games for the Blues from 1992 to 2007, would run in the October council election and challenge Lord Mayor Nick Reece for the city’s top job.

“I’m not a politician, but I love the city of Melbourne,” Koutoufides said on Saturday.

“I’m born and bred here. I have wonderful memories here in the city, and I think it’s pretty obvious … that we need to bring Melbourne back alive again.

“We’re committed to that and I’m looking forward to it, if I have that opportunity to be able to do it.”

He added: “I want to, with my heart, go out and represent the people of Melbourne and do everything for them.”

“If you put people first, city first and everyone else before you, I think success comes from that.”

Mr Koutoufides (middle) with Mr Khan (left), Ms Liu and Mr Ramani. Picture: David Crosling

Koutoufides said Mr Khan was the “main reason” he decided to run for lord mayor because of his “commitment to the cause”, adding that Ms Liu – a Carlton supporter – was a “wonderful” addition to the team and Mr Ramani – a Collingwood supporter – was a long-time friend.

Mr Khan, a wealthy property land developer, was convicted and fined $26,000 in 2018 on eight charges for failing to disclose companies “in which he held office during the return period” and “in which he held a financial interest” during his time on Wyndham City Council.

Koutoufides said he knew of these matters but was “very comfortable” with them.

“Sometimes, you know, you can make little mistakes,” he said. “I do … we all do.”

Mr Khan claimed he made a “naive” mistake, but insisted he remained eligible to run for deputy lord mayor.

“As my captain has said, as my lord mayor has said, we’re here together for Melbourne, not politics,” Mr Khan added.

Ms Liu, who became the first ethnically Chinese woman to be elected to the House of Representatives, held the marginal seat of Chisholm in Melbourne’s east from 2019 until it was lost to Labor in the 2022 federal election.

Mr Ramani, a ZLM Property Group director, was believed to be Mr Koutoufides’s running mate, but on Saturday it was confirmed he would run for a councillor position.

Mr Khan (left) is Koutoufides’s running mate. Picture: David Crosling

Koutoufides said his ticket – which he denied was aligned with the Liberal Party – would be self-funded by his team.

“I don’t have an affiliation with Labor or Liberal,” he said.

Koutoufides now joins Mr Reece, former deputy lord mayor Arron Wood, Labor’s Phil Reed, the Greens’ Roxane Ingleton, pollster Gary Morgan and current councillor Jamal Hakim in the mayoral race, with fewer than 75 days to go.

Senior Liberal sources last month confirmed the party will endorse a mayoral candidate for the first time in its history after years of “political control” by Labor and the Greens at a local council level, but the party has not made any formal announcement.

Anthony Koutoufides with his kids, Jamie, Lukas and Monique and wife Susie. Picture: David Crosling

When asked whether he was “tough enough” for politics, Koutoufides admitted he will be “out of his comfort zone”.

“I’ve been living a very peaceful life and so this is going to test me,” he said.

“I’m going to be a leader who puts the city of Melbourne and the people first.

“I think I’ve been blessed to be able to live the dream and my dream was to play AFL footy. The premiership will always be the greatest day of my life and I don’t need exposure.

“It’s not about that for me. It’s about the city of Melbourne and the people.”

In a series of rapid fire questions, Koutoufides said he would support the $316m Greenline project since it is “on the way”, review the city’s bike lanes and take a look at the controversial e-scooter ban.

He reiterated his pledge to freeze rates for two years to give some “breathing space” during the cost-of-living crisis.

Koutoufides said he wants to work closely with the state government to get workers back to the office and fast-track planning permits for more affordable housing.

“The relationship with the state government is really important,” he added.

Koutoufides ensured his eligibility to run for lord mayor by changing his Kouta Fit company’s principal place of business address on August 1 from a house in the northern suburbs to an office suite in Lt Collins St.