Reynolds denies conflict of interest
THE Hobart Lord Mayor denies having a conflict of interest after receiving political donations from a man who later became an e-scooter company representative.
During the 2018 Hobart City Council elections Anna Reynolds received $3000 in donations from Glenn Alldis, who went on to become Beam’s state operations manager in 2022.
The issue was raised in council’s Public Question Time by mayoral candidate Louise Elliot.
Ms Reynolds told the Mercury all the decisions relating to council’s “commercial relationship” with Beam were made in 2021, prior to Mr Alldis being appointed to Beam.
However, Alderman Jeff Briscoe said he still had “worries” about what he perceives to be a conflict of interest with a subsequent e-scooter related motion that Ms Reynolds has voted on this year.
He pointed to a recent e-scooter trial consultation report put to council in June, which covered share paths, senior training sessions, and other e-scooter related matters.
Hobart City’s 12-month e-scooter trial launched in December 2021 and has been subject to several motions and amendments since then.
Mr Briscoe said in his view there was a conflict of interest for Ms Reynolds to continue voting on escooter motions now that Mr Alldis was the state operations manager.
“I would say it would be a massive conflict of interest and it is very worrying,” Mr Briscoe said.
“The e-scooter issue is important to Hobart and I believe we should have the utmost integrity over these issues.”
The Mercury asked Hobart City Council whether Ms
Reynolds was required to declare a conflict of interest on e-scooter related motions due to receiving donations from Mr Alldis.
A Hobart City Council spokesperson said questions of conflict of interest were up to the individual elected members to answer.
Ms Reynolds said she voluntarily disclosed her donors for the 2018 council election, and was the only mayoral candidate to do so.
As for subsequent matters, Ms Reynolds took the view it was not a conflict of interest to continue voting on motions not relating to council’s commercial relationship with Beam.
“Having involvement in policy deliberations about matters impacting public infrastructure and safety about e-scooters would not constitute a conflict of interest,” Ms Reynolds said.
“When any decisions about a commercial relationship with Beam comes before council in the future, I will of course consider whether I need to declare a conflict of interest, and do so if required.”
The Mercury contacted Beam, but it declined to comment. The Mercury reached out to Glenn Alldis, but did not receive a response.