Local Councils Gone Wild

The Dysfunctional State of Tasmanian Local Government

Local councils are meant to be the level of government closest to the people by delivering essential services and keeping communities running. But in Tasmania, they’ve become a political reality TV show, full of feuding personalities, conspiracy theories, lawsuits, and, incredibly, talk of naming buildings after Donald Trump.

Instead of focusing on roads, rates, and rubbish, some councillors are fixated on personal vendettas, ideological grandstanding, and outright chaos. Here’s a snapshot of just how dysfunctional things have become.

West Tamar: Where Conspiracy Theories Thrive

Most councils debate planning permits and community projects. West Tamar? Their councillors have been busy pushing anti-vaxxer rhetoric and spreading misinformation. Public health? Forget it. They’ve got “concerns” about vaccines, even long after the worst of the pandemic has passed.

It’s a reminder that ideology can trump common sense—even at the local level. And it’s ratepayers who suffer when their representatives are more interested in fringe theories than fixing potholes.

¹West Tamar Council narrowly accepts motion on vaccine contamination

Hobart City Council: A House Divided

Hobart’s council meetings have become less about governing and more about factional warfare. Councillors spend more time fighting each other than making decisions that benefit the city. Heritage debates, bicycle lanes, climate policies—every issue turns into a political battleground.

With this level of dysfunction, it’s no wonder major projects stall while the city struggles with housing affordability, congestion, and infrastructure failures.

²Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds accuses EMRS of a publicity stunt over Hobart phone poll

Northern Midlands: Lawyers on Speed Dial

Nothing says “effective local governance” like councillors suing each other. Northern Midlands Council has turned personal grievances into full-blown legal disputes, proving that some representatives would rather fight in court than in the council chamber.

Ratepayers don’t fund local government so their elected officials can rack up legal bills against each other. But here we are.

³Use of Public Funds to Support Defamation Litigation – Lindsay Taylor Lawyers

Meander Valley: Let’s Name Things After Trump?

Just when you think things couldn’t get any stranger, some Meander Valley councillors floated the idea of naming public buildings after Donald Trump. This is a region with a rich history and pressing local issues—aging infrastructure, regional development, services for an older population. But instead of tackling these, a few councillors thought, “You know what we need? A Trump shrine.”

It’s a bizarre, pointless distraction. Instead of making Meander Valley a better place to live, it risks making it a national punchline.

⁴Meander Valley Council Ordinary Meeting Agenda – 11 February 2025

Dorset Council: The Mess of All Messes

Dorset Council might take the crown for dysfunction. From dodgy decision-making to endless internal turmoil, it’s a case study in how councils can go off the rails. A lack of transparency, poor governance, and a general sense that personal agendas outweigh community interests have left residents frustrated and disillusioned.

⁵Dorset Council Board of Inquiry findings revealed

When Did Local Government Become a Circus?

Local councils should be about practical governance—maintaining roads, managing development, and supporting communities. Instead, some in Tasmania are more focused on political stunts, personal feuds, and conspiracy theories.

Residents deserve better. Local government should be about competence, not chaos. It’s time for ratepayers to demand councillors who actually care about governing, rather than treating council chambers like a personal soapbox.

The Amalgamation Debate: Fix or Fiasco?

So, what’s the solution? Some argue that amalgamating councils—reducing the number of local governments—will bring efficiency, professionalism, and better decision-making. Others say better governance is the ticket.

A plan for limited amalgamations was rejected at the end of 2024. The rest of the plan, for better councils, was agreed. This plan does not fix anything. It makes things worse. There’s no plan to tackle the lack of accountability, rogue councillors, and endless pointless political games.

Then again, if the state government are setting the standard for the rest of the island to follow, what do you expect?

Footnotes:

1. West Tamar Council narrowly accepts motion on vaccine contamination
2. Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds accuses EMRS of a publicity stunt over Hobart phone poll
3. Use of Public Funds to Support Defamation Litigation – Lindsay Taylor Lawyers
4. Meander Valley Council Ordinary Meeting Agenda – 11 February 2025
5. Dorset Council Board of Inquiry findings revealed
6. Review of Tasmanian councils outcome