Candidates express concerns as party politics creeps into council elections

THE Liberal Party has taken the unusual step of issuing “how-to-vote” advice for the Hobart City Council elections.

Robert Mallett, who is running for Hobart lord mayor, is a preferred candidate of the Liberal Party. Picture: SAM ROSEWARNE

THE Liberal Party has taken the unusual step of issuing “how-to-vote” advice for the Hobart City Council elections, as Lord Mayor Ron Christie says party politics is “creeping in” to local government.

At least half of the 36 candidates in this month’s Hobart City Council race are members of a political party.

The Greens have endorsed four candidates, Labor one and the Liberal Party has issued its how-to-vote card.

Alderman Christie said it was a sad day but inevitable once the Greens announced their candidates before the last election.

“Local government should be about representing the community as an independent, not as a party candidate,” he said.

Liberal state president Geoff Page said the election was critical to the future of Hobart and it was important people knew which candidates would back development.

“Over the last four years Tasmania has gone ahead in leaps and bounds under Liberal governments in Tasmania and Canberra,” Mr Page said.

“However, Hobart has been held back by a Green-dominated council, who have voted to stymie development at almost every turn.

“Most recently we have seen the absurd situation of the council voting to effectively block the cable car — before they’ve even seen the cable car development application.”

Mr Page said it was important the city didn’t have a council which held back development.

Greens Aldermen Helen Burnet.

Zelinda Sherlock is a member of the Labor Party.

Three Labor Party members have nominated to run — the endorsed candidate Stephen McCallum, Zelinda Sherlock, who stood for Denison in this year’s state election, and Philip Stansfield.

Bill Harvey, Helen Burnet, Holly Ewin and Bec Taylor are the endorsed Greens aldermen candidates, while the Liberal Party has recommended people vote for Tanya Denison, Robert Mallett, Simon Behrakis, Louise Bloomfield, Will Coates, Chris Merridew and Stefan Vogel.

Martin Waldhoff is also a member of the Liberal Party, while alderman candidate Nigel Frame is the state director of the Australian Conservatives Party.

Labor said it would not be issuing a how-to-vote card.

Ald Anna Reynolds, who left the Greens earlier this year and is running as an independent, said she couldn’t understand why the Liberal candidates didn’t declare their hand months ago.

“I think the community deserves to know if these candidates are being supported by traditional Liberal donors like the Federal Group and if any support is being linked to particular policy promises being made by the candidates,” she said.

Ald Marti Zucco said he had no problem with members running as independent candidates, but if parties started endorsing candidates then it was a waste of time having councils.

“If we’re going to go down that track let’s just scrap local government altogether and have a state government,” he said.

Independent lord mayor candidate Mike Dutta said party members were “puppets” who had to toe the party line.

“In local government we should have totally independent candidates who can’t be coerced by anyone,” he said.

“I detest it and I don’t think it’s good for Hobart City Council.”

His daughter, Ms Sherlock, said while she was a Labor Party member, local government was not a place to represent a party position and councils should “work collaboratively as a microcosm of society”.

Labor member and Clarence alderman candidate Luke Edmunds puts up an election sign in Bellerive. Picture: MATT THOMPSON

Taking campaign into his own hands

CLARENCE Mayor Doug Chipman says the council has never run on party lines despite fears party politics are having an increasing influence on local government.

Ald Chipman, a former Liberal Party state president who stood as an independent in the Pembroke Legislative Council by-election last year, said even though some aldermen were members of a party, Clarence had “never operated on party lines”.

More than 35 per cent of the candidates standing in the Clarence election this month are party members.

The Greens have endorsed three candidates — Tom Allen, Kay McFarlane and Beth Warren.

Heather Chong, Luke Edmunds and Daniel Hulme are members of the Labor Party, with Brendan Blomeley, Shea Siddall and James Walker Liberal Party members. Mayoral candidate Tony Mulder was expelled from the Liberal Party earlier this year.

Mr Edmunds said he was a proud ALP member because it reflected his values, but he was running for council off his own back.

“I’m my own campaign manager, my campaign office is the kitchen table,” he said. “I’ve been putting up signs on my own or with the help of mates and family when time allows.

“From what most people have told me, they’re not worried about party politics at council level, they just want councillors who will listen, act and advocate — that will be my approach.”

Mr Walker said the fact there was little party endorsement meant elected aldermen debated on issues and decisions, not along party lines.

Warning community could lose

KINGBOROUGH Mayor Steve Wass warns the community will be the biggest loser if party politics plays a larger role in future councils.

Eighteen candidates are contesting the 10 Kingborough Council seats with at least five of them members of major political parties.

The Greens have endorsed three candidates — mayoral candidate Richard Atkinson, Gideon Cordover and Amanda Midgley. Sitting councillor Sue Bastone is a member of the Liberal Party but says she is “apolitical” along with candidate Christian Street.

Councillor and mayor hopeful Dean Winter is a member of the Labor Party but has previously vowed to be an independent mayor, if elected.

Of the 18 candidates, eight are independent including Tony Burley, Paul Chatterton, Flora Fox, David Grace, John McDonald, Samantha Scarlett, Deputy Mayor Paula Wreidt and Cr Wass.

The remaining candidates could not be reached.

Cr Wass said the past three or four elections had seen an increase in interest from political parties.

“Initially it was the Greens but we certainly have Liberal and Labor members as well.

“Ideally it would be better if there was no party politics.

“The potential fallout is that you start making decisions along party lines and not what the community wants.”

Cr Atkinson said being a Greens candidate acted as shorthand for what his values were and could be easily identified by voters.

“I think there is value in being upfront with my political affiliation,” he said.

“It doesn’t mean the Greens have ever directed me on how to vote on an issue.”

Cr Wreidt, a former Labor state government minister, said Kingborough Council had remained apolitical in its decision making.