Hobart Deputy Lord Mayor Zelinda Sherlock is facing growing calls to resign after CCTV footage and internal council emails allegedly showed her removing taxpayer-funded snacks, soft drinks and alcohol from Hobart Town Hall for personal use.
The footage, released under Right to Information (RTI) laws, reportedly captured Sherlock and another person entering the elected members’ lounge on multiple occasions in January 2024, leaving with shopping bags believed to contain refreshments. Council meetings were not taking place during the visits.
Internal emails obtained through the RTI request reveal council staff had been monitoring unexplained losses of refreshments for months before reviewing the CCTV footage.
According to one email, items that disappeared within 48 hours of restocking included seven bottles of soft drink, three bottles of wine, seven bottles of beer, six packets of nuts, Mars bars and Cadbury chocolate. Staff described the situation as “questionable” and expressed concern over the repeated stock shortages.
The Hobart City Council allocates A$4,000 annually for refreshments for elected members at Town Hall.
Earlier this year, four councillors sought an independent investigation into the allegations, but the motion failed. However, the release of the CCTV footage has reignited criticism, with several councillors now urging Sherlock to step down.
Sherlock has apologised, saying she misunderstood the council’s policy regarding the consumption of workplace refreshments. She noted that staff later clarified the snacks and drinks were not to be taken away from Town Hall or consumed elsewhere.
She also rejected the renewed criticism, describing it as a politically motivated attempt to damage her reputation ahead of the upcoming local government elections.
The matter was previously referred to Tasmania’s Integrity Commission, which dismissed the case, but the controversy continues to dominate debate within Hobart City Council as election season approaches.
