Marti Zucco calls for Minister to help clarify Hobart Lord Mayor role

THE Lord Mayor has welcomed a motion to ask the Local Government Minister to clarify the role of Lord Mayor and what he can and cannot say in public. READ THE EDITORIAL

Hobart Lord Mayor Ron Christie has vowed to continue to express his personal opinions. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

HOBART Lord Mayor Ron Christie has welcomed a motion to be put before the city council on Monday, which will seek to ask the Local Government Minister to clarify the role of Lord Mayor and what he can and cannot say in public.

Alderman Marti Zucco will put forward the motion in response to a number of comments made by the Lord Mayor.

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In the past couple of months Ald Christie has come under criticism for vowing to use nipaluna as the dual indigenous name for Hobart, for accusing Dark Mofo of crossing the line with its use of inverted crosses and for declaring that mass tourism would destroy Hobart.

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Ald Christie has maintained these are his personal views and not those of the council but Ald Zucco said his tourism comments in particular had done damage to Hobart’s reputation.

“When Hobart makes BBC news in Dubai and London that Tasmania doesn’t want tourists it becomes a detriment to the city,” he said.

Alderman Marti Zucco.

“Irrespective of whether the Lord Mayor is saying now that these are personal comments I actually refute that completely.

“It is accepted that the Lord Mayor has a role as spokesman of the council but this role must be used to reflect the views and decisions of the council.”

Ald Christie said he was fine with the motion was being put forward.

“If it’s going to give clarification to the very important and complex roles of mayors and lord mayors then I absolutely welcome it,” he said.

He vowed to “continue to express my personal opinions”.

“Under the Local Government Act, my role as Hobart lord mayor and alderman is to represent the view of the community – every alderman has that right,’’ Ald Christie said.

Others were not convinced about the merit of the motion.

Alderman Anna Reynolds said she thought it was “a nonsense motion”.

“The mayor is entitled to raise his personal views,” she said/

Alderman Helen Burnet said she thought it was great Ald Zucco was so well versed in code of conduct matters but felt the motion would not help the council provide good governance.

Alderman Damon Thomas said he was unlikely to support the motion but would listen to the debate.

Aldermen Jeff Briscoe and Tanya Denison said they would listen to the debate before making any decisions while Alderman Bill Harvey accused Ald Zucco of grandstanding.