Hobart council candidate accuses Lord Mayor of ‘grabbing’ and ‘verbally abusing’ her at meeting

Hobart Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds has been criticised over a bizarre alleged confrontation at a public meeting last night. WHAT HAPPENED >>

A HOBART City Council candidate has publicly accused Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds of “accosting” and “verbally abusing” her after she spoke at a city hall meeting on Wednesday night.

Louise Elliot said Ms Reynolds grabbed her arm and repeatedly said to her “you are wrong” after she gave a speech at the public meeting held in response to the Save UTAS Campus petition.

The aspiring councillor sent an email to the Lord Mayor demanding a public apology.

Ms Reynolds did not directly address the allegations but said she would be happy to meet with Ms Elliot “to have a chat about it”.

“I have received Ms Elliot’s email and I’m pleased that she’s accepted an invitation to meet to have a chat about it,” Ms Reynolds said.

“I welcome the opportunity to listen and address any valid concerns.”

Hobart City Council candidate Louise Elliot with Alderman Jeff Briscoe in March. Picture: Kenji Sato

Several sources told the Mercury said they saw the Lord Mayor grab Ms Elliot’s arm, including sitting councillors Simon Behrakis and Jeff Briscoe.

“I wasn’t expecting this at all. I went to return to my seat after I spoke, my arm was grabbed and I was pulled basically into Anna’s face,” Ms Elliot said.

“I sat down really shocked, dozens of people saw this … I can’t believe she would physically grab someone as they came off stage.

“How can the public actually feel comfortable, that it’s a safe space to express their views when the mayor can just grab you – it feels like an unsafe environment.”

Footage from the meeting shows Ms Reynolds shaking her head while Ms Elliot claimed the Lord Mayor had held regular meetings with UTAS with no information made publicly available.

Dozens of locals had lined up to slam the university’s planned move into the CBD at the meeting, which was organised after a petition aiming to halt the proposal gathered more than 1700 signatures.

Hobart Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds at the Hobart Aquatic Centre. Picture Chris Kidd

Alderman Jeff Briscoe, a vocal opponent of the proposed UTAS move, called for Ms Reynolds' resignation after what he said was a “disgusting, degrading and appalling” confrontation.

“That put Louise in shock. This is serious stuff in my view,” Mr Briscoe said.

“I would call for her immediate resignation.”

“I could see it happening – Louise came down from the stage, Anna reached out, grabbed her arm and gave her a blast.”

Another Alderman, Simon Behrakis, said he did not hear the words exchanged between the pair but backed up Ms Elliot’s accusations.

“I saw (Ms Reynolds) grab Louise by the arm as she was walking past to return to her chair and had words with her until Louise pulled away,” Mr Behrakis said.