Councillors’ no to drugs

A PROPOSAL to consider drug and alcohol testing for Hobart City councillors has been rejected amid a chaotic meeting in which one alderman stormed out of the chambers mid-debate.

Tensions were high at last night’s council meeting to discuss a notice of motion for a report to consider elected members to be included in the City of Hobart staff random illicit drug and alcohol testing program.

A PROPOSAL to consider drug and alcohol testing for Hobart City councillors has been rejected amid a chaotic meeting that saw one alderman storm out of the chambers mid-debate.

Tensions were high at last night’s council meeting during discussion of a motion from Aldermen Jeff Briscoe and Tanya Denison calling for a report to consider elected members be included in the City of Hobart staff random illicit drug and alcohol testing program.

Ald Marti Zucco, Peter Sexton, Tanya Denison, Simon Behrakis and Jeff Briscoe voted in favour of getting a report, while councillors Holly Ewin, Zelinda Sherlock, Mike Dutta, Bill Harvey, Deputy Lord Mayor Helen Burnet and Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds voted against it.

Alderman Damon Thomas was not at last night’s meeting.

Before the vote, Ald Denison moved a motion of no confidence in the chair, Ald Reynolds.

“There is a councillor in this room who has publicly expressed prejudgment and already decided how they are going to vote — this is an issue of governance and the Lord Mayor as chair is accountable for governance in this chamber,” she said before storming out of the meeting.

Cr Ewin had previously voiced opposition to the notice of motion.

Ald Reynolds said councillors were expected to and were free to have strong views about matters, but the test was whether they were “willing to listen to advice and other views before they make their final decision”.

Ald Behrakis said there had been a difference in treatment between some councillors and aldermen by the Lord Mayor, that was “a real sign of poor governance”.

“If the council and the public can’t have the perception that the meetings that decide which direction our city goes in are being run in a fair and balanced way, then there’s some real serious concerns the community may have,” he said.

The Lord Mayor abstained from voting on the no confidence motion.

Ald Zucco said if the Lord Mayor’s vote was not recorded “I’ll be taking legal advice and legal action against this council”.

Speaking to the drug and alcohol report motion, several councillors raised concerns about the publication of negative test results and warned against a “naming and shaming” approach.

The motion was defeated by six votes to five.