Media release – City of Hobart, 7 November 2022

News from tonight’s Council meeting

Tonight marked the ceremonial swearing in and the declaration of office of the new Hobart City Council.

Councillor Anna Reynolds was returned as Lord Mayor with Councillor Helen Burnet the Deputy Lord Mayor also for a second time.

Cr Reynolds and Cr Burnet were Hobart’s first female Lord Mayor and Deputy Lord Mayor when first elected to these positions in 2018 and Hobart remains the only Australian capital city to have popularly elected two women into city leadership.

The council marked the swearing in of five new candidates in Councillor John Kelly, Councillor Louise Elliot, Alderman Louise Bloomfield, Councillor Ryan Posselt and Councillor Ben Lohberger.

In her investiture speech Cr Reynolds thanked family, friends and supporters during the recent election, but said now was a time to provide strategic leadership to the 650-plus City of Hobart staff and the wider Hobart community.

“Our city, like most cities around the world, is having to deliver our traditional services while being influenced and buffeted by a significant national and global trends,” Cr Reynolds said.

“As local decision-makers we need to be live to these trends and changes, while keeping our feet firmly on the ground.

“Growing inequality, a housing affordability crisis for the young and those on low incomes, more extreme weather damaging our infrastructure, shrinking public sector incomes and growing inflation will affect the lives of our residents and the ability of our city to undertake our work.

“There are also so many new exciting and smart solutions to urban challenges and innovations making all cities more liveable.

“We’re seeing aging communities, growing multiculturalism and diversity in our cities – as well as a global competition for talent and creativity that Hobart is so well placed to meet.

“Here’s to an inspiring term – I wish all of my colleagues and their families and friends here tonight the best for the coming years.”

The first meeting of the new council will be held on November 21.