Sally Capp’s pledge to create 80,000 jobs falls flat and is years behind schedule

Lord Mayor Sally Capp wanted to create 80,000 jobs during this council term, but figures show only 22,700 jobs have been created, meaning her pledge is years behind schedule.

Lord Mayor Sally Capp’s jobs pledge is years behind schedule. Picture: Daniel Pockett

Lord Mayor Sally Capp’s key economic pledge to create 80,000 jobs during this council term is tens of thousands of jobs short and years behind schedule.

In September 2020, in the lead up to the council election, she promised to create 20,000 jobs in the municipality each year and put job creation at the heart of her plan for the city’s future.

However, the City of Melbourne’s draft annual report for 22-23 shows just 22,700 jobs were created between 2020 and the end of June this year – well short of her annual pledge and years behind where the jobs target needs to be.

With just under a year to go until the next round of council elections, the Herald Sun had a sit down interview with the Lord Mayor about her biggest achievements and regrets over the past three years.

When asked by the Herald Sun on the progress of the key economic pledge, Ms Capp appeared to forget what she had promised to voters.

“How many did I say? 80,000 over four years?”

“Well, I’d have to come back to you with the exact numbers.

“We have certainly been really active with initiatives like Invest Melbourne, for example.”

Lord Mayor Sally Capp says navigating Covid was one of her proudest achievements. Picture: Mark Stewart

After Ms Capp’s gaffe, a City of Melbourne staffer pointed to the jobs creation figure in draft annual report – which is set to be voted on at Tuesday’s council meeting.

The Victorian economy overall created more than 500,000 jobs between September 2020 and October 2023.

Ms Capp said the city’s economy had grown from $104bn pre-Covid to now be worth $114bn.

She said steering the city through Covid was one of her proudest achievements.

“Leading through one of the most difficult times we have experienced in our lifetime … and being able to provide that support for lots of organisations, from international students to small businesses during that time,” Ms Capp said.

“(The pandemic) has been a major part of my time here at Town Hall.”

Ms Capp acknowledged that signature projects such as the Greenline and refurbishing a city building to create homelessness accommodation – Make Room – had taken a long time to progress.

“It can be frustrating when you don’t see things done as quickly as you want to,” she said.

Ms Capp cited a range of factors such as post-pandemic labour shortages and materials cost rises as factors in the slow pace of delivery on her key projects.

She refused to say if she would run again to contest a third election for Lord Mayor.

“I am really still head down in delivering on this council plan and getting as many things done as possible,” Ms Capp said.

“I am really pleased that all councillors and the council team are all in the space of delivery and getting things done.

“Our focus is absolutely on what we need to do to serve the people of Melbourne to the best of our ability.”