Former Hobart lord mayor Rob Valentine has seen it all during a 30-year career in local government and state politics.
Key points:
- More than 500 candidates are jostling for spots on Tasmania's 29 councils
- The Tasmanian government has hit out at bullying and vandalism during the local election campaign
- This year's election is the first where voting is compulsory for anyone registered on the electoral roll
However, the Hobart MLC says behaviour during this month's local council election campaign — highlighted by vandalised campaign signs and personal attacks — is as bad as he's seen.
"There have been moments during my time in local government where things got a little personal, but I don't think I've seen it quite as prevalent as it's been this time," he said.
"There are a lot of candidates, and candidates look for that edge and, sometimes, it can get a little personal as a result."
With more than 500 candidates jostling for spots on Tasmania's 29 councils, the first election with compulsory voting has been hotly fought.
In Hobart, mayoral candidate Louise Elliot — fed up with vandals defacing about 35 of her election signs — offered a $500 reward for information about a man accused of damaging at least one, and reported the incident to police.
"It hasn't been typical graffiti. These are nasty and premeditated attacks that have escalated since the signs first went up," she said.
Ms Elliot has also been heavily criticised over claiming to "identify as a frog" in a September 2020 email to a non-binary councillor.
Another candidate for mayor, Marti Zucco, took pictures of incumbent Anna Reynolds's car parked at the council chambers, saying the advocate of reducing car usage was failing "to show the leadership" by not walking or cycling on a "perfect Hobart day".
A war of words erupted between a group protesting the University of Tasmania's move into the city and candidate Ryan Posselt, while there was also furore over the proposed creation of a highly paid chief-of-staff role, with an annual salary of $170,000.
Across the bridge in Clarence, there was a war of words after the signs of one mayoral candidate, Beth Warren, appeared on the fence of retiring alderman Dean Ewington's Howrah gym and were quickly deposited into a skip bin.
Candidates urged to lift standards
The shenanigans have prompted Local Government Minister Nic Street to call for improved behaviour.
"It is incumbent upon all councillors and candidates to treat people fairly and with respect," Mr Street said.
"Bullying, harassment and discrimination are unacceptable in any forum, and have no place in our society.
"It is critical that councillors and candidates behave in a way that meets community expectations."
Speaking to ABC Radio Hobart, Local Government Association president Christina Holmdahl agreed this election campaign was more vicious than usual.
"It's been there all along, but I think this election has really amplified just how bad it really is," she said.
She pointed the finger at the media for "sensationalising" issues, as well as people "weaponising" social media to target candidates.
"The local government sector has been asking successive governments for a long time to look at ways that our sector can be respected at the same level that the state and federals sectors are respected," she said.
"There are no other sectors that take direct abuse from the public like we do."
University of Tasmania's public and environmental policy associate professor, Kate Crowley, said there had been more online bullying than normal during this council election period.
"I don't know if we're just seeing it more than usual because of social media but it just goes to the nature of local politics that seems to be getting worse," she said.
"It may not be worse than previously, but it's being amplified, and amplified at a faster rate, so things get known and then responded to and then they escalate."
Dr Crowley said the issues in Hobart were largely the result of a battle between two factions.
"There is a struggle for power and control over the council and its development approvals, there's a whole bunch of deeper politics going on that are more fundamental than just personality attacks," she said.
"With Hobart, it does seem to be unprecedented, the attacks that we've seen, but we've seen a slow increase in this over the years and it's most unfortunate."
Dr Crowley said she was not sure what the state government could do to stamp out the behaviour, given codes of conduct don't apply to candidates, but Mr Valentine said the answer rested with those putting their hand up.
"It's important to stick to the issues and keep the comments focused on those and not the personalities at hand," he said.
North-west mayor praises behaviour
The Waratah-Wynyard Council has been home to one of the local government's sectors biggest scandals over retiring councillor Darren Fairbrother's refusal to stand down after being found guilty of flashing his penis at a crown prosecutor and her son at Boat Harbour beach.
However Mayor Robby Walsh — who is retiring at this election after an 11-year stint in the role — said while this campaign was "pretty serious", candidates in his municipality were largely getting along.
"The participants in this election, at the forums and things like that, they've been very friendly with each other," he said.
"They must realise that they're opponents but they're still getting on really well and connecting with each other and I think it's their heart for our municipality. They're very concerned and they want to be involved in what happens in our municipality.
"It's much different this time, even though the rest of the state is experiencing some nasty activity, I'm pretty pleased with the manners the election has been campaigned in our area."
Tasmania's first local election with compulsory voting has been hotly fought - ABC News
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