City of Launceston election finalised
Published on 02 November 2022
Seven new Councillors have been elected to the City of Launceston in the local government elections, with five incumbent Councillors retaining their seats.
The Tasmanian Electoral Commission oversaw the elections, which were conducted via postal ballot and in which voting was compulsory for the first time in the State's local government history.
Thirty-three candidates competed for 12 Councillor positions at the City of Launceston, with five candidates also contesting the Mayoral position and ten candidates contesting the Deputy Mayor's position.
More than 40,700 voter ballots were returned in Launceston, equating to a response rate of 82.32 per cent.
Incumbent Councillor Danny Gibson has been elected as Mayor of Launceston, and becomes the 77th person to hold the position, while Matthew Garwood has been elected Deputy Mayor.
First-time Councillors Matthew Garwood, George Razay, Joe Pentridge, Andrew Palmer, Lindi McMahon, Susie Cai and Alex Britton will join incumbent Councillors Danny Gibson, Hugh McKenzie, Andrea Dawkins, Alan Harris and Tim Walker around the Council table.
In order of election, the new Council will comprise:
Mayor Danny Gibson
Deputy Mayor Matthew Garwood
Councillor George Razay
Councillor Joe Pentridge
Councillor Hugh McKenzie
Councillor Andrea Dawkins
Councillor Andrew Palmer
Councilor Lindi McMahon
Councillor Alan Harris
Councillor Tim Walker
Councillor Susie Cai
Councillor Alex Britton
The Certificate of Election for the Launceston municipality has been issued by the Tasmanian Electoral Commission and the City of Launceston will host a formal Declarations of Office ceremony for Councillors next week.
For business continuity purposes, Mayor Danny Gibson has undertaken his Declaration of Office today, but will still take part in next week's formal ceremony.
The first meeting of the new Council will occur at 1pm on Thursday, November 17, at Launceston's Town Hall.