Former 60 Minutes Reporter Charles Wooley Sworn In As Hobart Lord Mayor

Former 60 Minutes reporter Charles Wooley was sworn in as Hobart’s lord mayor, telling the ceremony that residents elected the new council to fix things rather than fight each other, Pulse Tasmania reported.

He took the oath of office wearing a Scottish kilt in tribute to his heritage. Wooley told the ceremony his family had ties to Clan MacGregor, which lost its lands after rising with Bonnie Prince Charlie in 1745. He noted that the tartan was banned following the uprising.

“Our people were rounded up and sent to America and Canada, later to New Zealand and to Australia,” Wooley said during the ceremony.

Charles Wooley elected Lord Mayor of Hobart | 7NEWS

Wooley was born on the Scottish island of Arran. He noted that his great-grandfather, Captain Charles Wooley, became harbour master at Suva in Fiji after sailing around the world many times on the clipper ship Cutty Sark, which he described as the fastest ship afloat.

Wooley first encountered Hobart at age 17 when he traveled from Launceston to attend university. During his student years, he served as editor of the university newspaper.

Charles Wooley speaks as elected Hobart mayor | ABC News

Reflecting on his early career as a journalist, Wooley said he “had a fair bit to do with saving the Franklin.” He described his environmentalism as focusing on rivers and forests rather than political power and social engineering. He emphasized that he ran for the mayoral office without backing from any political party, adding that he is old enough not to be auditioning for anything.

Wooley told the gathering that he wanted the newly elected council to operate differently from its predecessor. He stated that the new chapter for Hobart should be entirely positive.

Former TV reporter elected as Lord Mayor | 9 News Australia

“Every one of us was elected by the people of this city, for this city,” Wooley said. “We are here to serve Hobartians, not for any party, ideology or interest group.”

He pointedly addressed the internal conflict that plagued the previous municipal administration. According to Wooley, residents grew weary of constant arguments at the council level.

For too long, the people of Hobart have watched this council argue and they’ve had enough. They didn’t elect us to fight each other, they elected us to fix things.

While acknowledging that councillors naturally hold differing perspectives, Wooley expressed hope that future debates would remain civil. He stated that Hobart ranks among the best cities globally and that every member of the new council shares a desire to improve it.

Eight councillors were sworn in alongside the new lord mayor: Bill Harvey, Mike Dutta, Zelinda Sherlock, John Kelly, Louise Elliot, Ryan Posselt, Simon Behrakis, and Harvey Lennon. Wooley and Lennon are serving their first terms on the Hobart City Council, while the other six councillors have served previously.

The swearing-in ceremony took place at a hotel on Collins Street instead of the traditional Hobart Town Hall ballroom. The City of Hobart attributed the venue change to temporary accessibility issues involving the Town Hall lift. Wooley joked that the elevator outage might serve as his very first instruction to the council.

The newly formed council will convene for its first official meeting on November 16, 2026, inside the Hobart Town Hall Council Chambers. During that session, councillors are scheduled to vote on a new deputy lord mayor.

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