Arabic version: وولي يحدد أولوياته بعد انتخابه عمدةً لهوبارت

According to ABC News, veteran journalist and author Charles Wooley has held his first media conference after being elected Hobart’s next lord mayor. Wooley secured the role with 55 per cent of the vote, after the result was declared late the previous day.

Wooley said his campaign slogan, “Hobart for Hobartians”, was inspired by a visit to Barcelona, where he met that city’s first female mayor. He said a message on the wall of her office read, “Never forget for whom we run this city.” Asked about Hobart City Council appearing likely to have only one female councillor, he said: “Women didn’t vote for women — it’s extraordinary.”

On division within the council, Wooley said he would address it “by being nice”. He described the past eight years of council as “vitriolic” and said the lord mayor was not the boss, but represented the council to the public and the public to the council. His policy ideas for the coming four years included seeking to cap rates. He said his personal preference was a $200 rate cut for everybody, although his advisers had told him he could not do that.

Wooley also said he supported council amalgamations and wanted local government code of conduct legislation reviewed. Counting continued across Tasmania, with results for many councillor and deputy mayor positions still outstanding. Elsewhere, Burnie mayor Teeny Brumby lost to her deputy, Giovanna Simpson; Clarence mayor Brendan Blomeley was defeated by newcomer Drew Jenner, who won 51 per cent of the vote; Shane Pitt lost to Lindsay Newman on the West Coast; and Casey Farrell replaced Michelle Dracoulis in the Derwent Valley.