Louise Elliot - Vote 1 Deputy Lord Mayor for Hobart City Council

Louise Elliot - Vote 1 Deputy Lord Mayor for Hobart City Council www.louiseelliot.org/donate

It's been a busy four years. When it comes to waste and common sense, I have led the common-sense perspective on the Col...
21/09/2026

It's been a busy four years. When it comes to waste and common sense, I have led the common-sense perspective on the Collins St Chaos. I was proven right with the narrowing of Centrepoint carpark to one lane, showcased the Blind-Freddy inadequacy of the the bus turning space and the overall wasteful and poorly thought through expenditure.

I've worked hard with customers and stakeholders to deliver real improvements in Plumbing and have put the PlanBuild system in the spotlight - and I won't stop until it's fixed.

I've tackled obvious waste and opportunity cost, such as Dorney House and the Elizabeth Street Mall information booth - both just sitting for years, costing and doing nothing.

I've been persistent in questioning the failures of parking systems and technology that has unfairly punished users and frustrated staff.

I've provided a strong defence for retaining our Dr Crowther monument and of his legacy monument in face of a disgraceful character assasination and fictional 'truth-telling'.

I led the common-sense removal of dogs from South Hobart Oval, months before the rest of the Council caught up.

I motivated an overhaul of Wellington Court which has tangibly improved the space as a place to gather and relax.

But - there's much more to do.

Around $700,000 of your money has been spent on the Collins St bike lanes. That's a huge amount of money. In the space o...
21/09/2026

Around $700,000 of your money has been spent on the Collins St bike lanes. That's a huge amount of money. In the space of only 30 minutes, multiple people disregarded the bike lanes right beside them. And fair enough, too. Many riders find being in the traffic lane safer than the bike lanes.

Collins St was already one of the slowest streets in the city. Let's make common sense decisions. Yes to safe and secure bike lockers and fixing roads and footpaths instead of wasting space and money.

Here are some of my governance-related achievements in my first four years.I exposed major issues related to the abuse o...
20/09/2026

Here are some of my governance-related achievements in my first four years.

I exposed major issues related to the abuse of direct appointments - jobs for mates - which, as is typical, was vigorously denied and obstructed and took months of perseverance.

I exposed rampant and blatant discrimination towards everyday beliefs that led to multiple people involved 'moving on'.

I ensured accountability for the Lord Mayor and others who breached the Personal Information Protection Act through the Ombudsman who found multiple breaches and expressed shock as the Lord Mayor's refusal to accept wrongdoing.

I exposed fundamental breaches of the Right to Information Act, including the unlawful withholding of information.

I have led accountability for what all reasonable people view as stealing by the Deputy Lord Mayor. And I've been proven right that leadership's response to the Deputy and her associate's theft was mishandled - the CEO has no authority to investigate potential elected member misconduct.

I've fought hard against an engrained culture of secrecy, protectionism and coverup.

I have exposed constant 'flying for climate'.

17/09/2026

Typical ABC spin and protectionism of people with Wokism-inducing characteristics.

Dear ABC Hobart. It's not councillors "not letting that issue die," it's councillors, on behalf of the community and in the governance role they are elected to do, seeking the truth, transparency and accountability for gross wrongdoing (stealing) and likely coverup of obvious wrongdoing.

I fully support defunding most ABC services and making it a subscription service.

I have worked hard to be a strong and persistent advocate for the community and have had considerable success, but there...
16/09/2026

I have worked hard to be a strong and persistent advocate for the community and have had considerable success, but there is much more to do. I'm asking for your support to help finish the job - we need a fair, trustworthy and respected Council that delivers the basics brilliantly and provides ratepayers with excellent value for money.

I stand for:​

- bringing down Hobart’s high rates and delivering excellent value for ratepayers

- stopping the endless waste with a core business focus and common-sense solutions

- a thriving business environment, with sensible and practical parking and traffic improvements

- minimising red and green regulation and respecting your fundamental rights and freedoms

- a welcoming attitude to new homes, hotels, businesses, and innovation and jobs in our city

- overhauling our city’s deteriorating facilities, stormwater infrastructure, and roads and footpaths

- transparent decision-making and genuine consultation and

- restoring trust in your Council.

Here's a bunch of promises I can very easily make.
16/09/2026

Here's a bunch of promises I can very easily make.

Things are very skewed when you can end up suspended for uttering a few words on social media but filling your home pant...
13/09/2026

Things are very skewed when you can end up suspended for uttering a few words on social media but filling your home pantry and fridge on the ratepayer tab isn't a breach of local government laws. It's a seriously messed up situation but, in fairness, stealing is a Criminal Code matter.

Soon after learning how management had handled Councillor Sherlock's shopping trips at Town Hall, I urged the Council to develop an Elected Member Misconduct Policy. Disturbingly but unsurprisingly, this was voted down, with Councillor Sherlock's own father, Councillor Dutta, participting in the debate. This whole saga has been a textbook case of how badly governance can fail when some people around the table can't bring themselves to think objectively because of tribalism and protectionism. They can push down their values and sense of right and wrong to protect one of their own.

I have been vindicated; from the moment I saw the tip of this iceberg, it was obvious that things had been handled improperly. I saw a serious governance issue and took action to address it and, as I knew at the time, the approach I was pushing was the right one.

Councillor Sherlock owes big thanks to previous management who ensured her conduct didn't see the light of day for a couple of years. This bought her time so the window for accountability under the Code of Conduct was closed. Would we have seen a suspension for the stealing that all reasonable people see? Perhaps they would have referred the matter to the police or Integrity Commission, we will never know.

Essentially, the Director has spelt out what is obvious to most people: don't steal and if you come across potential misconduct and you're conflicted, refer it.

The Director states that the situation management were confronted with when discovering Councillor Sherlock and her associate were responsible for removing products, including alcohol, for a number of years was 'complex' and 'without precendent'. What Councillor Sherlock and her associate did has never happened before, but there is nothing complex about it - taking things without consent, with intention to permanently deprive when the place is closed and under the cover of darkness is pretty cut and dry.

The Director has essentially described keeping potential elected member misconduct 'inhouse' as 'problematic' given the conflict with the CEO being the employed by the Council. This is what I said from the very start.

It's also concerning that the current CEO maintains the previous response was appropriate. I said from day one that the CEO has no authority to investigate potential elected member misconduct and questioned why it wasn't referred - I have been proven right, again

Unfortunately I have little faith in accountability from a criminal perspective, either. I imagine Tasmania Police would want the Council to proactively seek to have charges laid for stealing before they were to act, and that hasn't happened, BUT...... it's something a new Council could do. And that wouldn't have to be limited to Cr Sherlock, but also her associate on her late night and weekend escapades.

Hobart rates must come down. I will move that rate increases do not exceed a MAXIMUM 2% for the next four years. The aim...
11/09/2026

Hobart rates must come down. I will move that rate increases do not exceed a MAXIMUM 2% for the next four years. The aim is as close to zero as possible, and never higher than 2%.

Why not say 0% increase? Oh how I want to! I have given this a lot if thought. I can't in good conscience say no rate increases as salaries make up around 60% of the budget and wage increases are largely locked in. Zero increase would mean redundancies that are more expensive overall.

With discipline and ruthless examination of services, costs and ways of working, I am confident you can finally receive the excellent value for your hard-earned money you deserve.

MAXIMUM RATE and FEE INCREASE OF 2% a year. Your rates are far too high. I know it, you know it, and they know it - but ...
11/09/2026

MAXIMUM RATE and FEE INCREASE OF 2% a year.

Your rates are far too high. I know it, you know it, and they know it - but they won't admit it. If elected, I'll move that the Council commit to maximum rates and fee increases of 2% a year for the next four years.

How? Like this:

- by switching mindset: we treat ratepayers as if they are our voluntary customers with a choice. We act like a private company that must deliver customer value or we lose them. We must balance our books, ensure customer retention and deliver returns (value) and long-term sustainability for our shareholders (you).

- by having a workforce that is exclusively focused on core local government business. An immediate recruitment freeze on fluffy nice-to-have roles and, as these positions are vacated, they are abolished. And an unfettered review of all Council services - is it core business or not? If not, phase out plan implemented.

- by condensing super expensive leadership. Executive level salaries easily total over $1.5 million a year. Did you know the CEO gets paid more than the State Premier?

- by eliminating waste and duplication. If it doesn't deliver tangible value for most ratepayers, we don't do it. If it's someone else's job, we don't do it. No more flying for climate, no more talkfests, no more unnecessary 'strategies' and 'plans' that serve merely as photo opportunities. No more ratepayer funded political spin. No more nonsense wasteful handouts and

- by proactively increasing buying power by working with other councils and being supportive of amalgamations. And by addressing sole-provider dependency issues. And most critically, spending your money as if it was our own.

Some people think they're above the rules. So arrogant. No election signs are allowed on public property.Care to remove ...
07/09/2026

Some people think they're above the rules. So arrogant. No election signs are allowed on public property.

Care to remove this and the others City of Hobart?

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23 Murray Street
Hobart, TAS
7000

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