Gavin Pearce (Braddon, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Health, Aged Care and Indigenous Health Services) Share this | Hansard source

Throwing your hat into the ring and running for local council is a great community service, and across Tasmania local government elections have just finished. I want to officially welcome the many new faces to our region's eight local councils. Among them are six new mayors. Congratulations to: Teeny Brumby at Burnie; Cheryl Fuller, Central Coast; Gerard Blizzard at Circular Head; Alison Jarman at Devonport; Marcus Blackie on King Island; and Mary Duniam, who became the first Waratah-Wynyard female mayor. Also congratulations to Peter Freshney at Latrobe and Shane Pitt on the West Coast on your the re-election.

I'm all about encouraging competent candidates to run for these positions. That's the only attribute that should matter. Across the north-west, west coast and King Island voters have elected a highly credentialled, capable, forward-thinking community of members to represent them. My relationship with our mayors and general managers, I'm proud to say, has been very positive through my last two terms. I look forward to working together and continuing to make this region the best it can be. I want to conclude by thanking retiring mayors, deputies and councillors for your respective services. The past years have been difficult, and I want to thank you for your valued support and your contribution to your local communities.

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