Marti Zucco, Louise Bloomfield, John Kelly and Will Coats abandon special meeting after failed vote

Four elected members from the Hobart City Council abandoned a special meeting on Wednesday when a vote did not go their way, leaving debate unable to continue.

Marti Zucco immediately leaving after his deferral motion was defeated.

Four elected members from the Hobart City Council spat the dummy and abandoned a special meeting on Wednesday when a vote did not go the way they wanted.

Members gathered to discuss the apology issued to councillor Louise Elliot, after she was lied to by council staff, who blocked her from booking an event at Town Hall.

Ms Elliot and Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds were absent from the meeting, but City of Hobart CEO Michael Stretton said it was Ms Elliot’s wish that the matter be dealt be with promptly.

“She was very keen to see the matter resolved as expediently as possible, as was I from an organisational perspective,” he said.

Michael Stretton, the new City of Hobart CEO. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

But not everyone wanted to put it to rest; Alderman Marti Zucco twice attempted to defer discussion on the item.

Mr Zucco first said he wanted to suspend debate so it “could be discussed in a manner which may require some of us to speak more than once”.

Alderman Marti Zucco. Picture: Chris Kidd

It was quickly pointed out members already had five minutes to weigh in and the option to extend.

Mr Zucco’s motion, supported by Will Coats, John Kelly and Louise Bloomfield was defeated.

His second attempt came with a request that elected members be allowed to read the full report into the investigation into how Ms Elliot’s booking was handled.

“I don’t want necessarily the report to be made public but I would like to read that report in full,” Mr Zucco said.

“I further move the reason for my deferral is that I believe that this matter should be dealt with when all members, and in particular our Lord Mayor, is present.”

The motion was also defeated, with the same members voting in favour.

When things did not pan out how they’d hoped, the members who supported deferral left.

“Obviously people don’t want the truth,” Mr Zucco said as he swung his laptop bag on his shoulder and walked out.

Mr Kelly and Ms Bloomfield also packed up and left the chamber, with Mr Coats quick to follow, leaving the substantive item unfinished.

Alderman Louise Bloomfield. Picture: Chris Kidd

“It appears people will move out so there is no quorum and I feel very disappointed this was the strategy used,” Cr Mike Dutta said.

“We don’t have a quorum so we can’t continue.”

“They’re all in the member’s lounge, including councillor Coats I believe,” Mr Lohberger said.

Mr Stretton said he didn’t actually require members to vote on the item, which was only supposed to be noted, and he could issue Ms Elliot’s apology without a vote.

It’s not the first time the council has been without a quorum, leaving them unable to proceed with a meeting.

On June 19 and May 22, the four members who left were among those absent from planning committee meetings, resulting in a lack of quorum.