Councillors Cop Blame

Newcastle Herald

Tuesday August 26, 2008

Ben Smee

NEWCASTLE Lord Mayor John Tate fired back at critics of his leadership last night, claiming ill-disciplined councillors had caused the council to lose direction.

Five of the seven lord mayoral candidates are current councillors, and Cr Tate's opponents have spent the first weeks of the campaign attacking his leadership during the past four years.

But at last night's Newcastle Alliance candidates forum, Cr Tate responded to those criticisms and said individual councillors were as important as the Lord Mayor in making sure the council worked effectively.

"You've never heard me criticise the council publicly. I believe that's the hallmark of a leader," Cr Tate said.

"But I'm very mindful of the shortcomings of the [council]."

Candidates addressed about 100 people at Newcastle City Hall at last night's forum, and each used the opportunity to highlight their experience and priorities.

Leadership, environmental concerns, improving Hunter Street and making the council more efficient were high on the list.

Independent candidate Tony Brown, who led the recent campaign against late-trading hotels, pledged he would quit after two years and lobby for an administrator to be appointed if he failed to get councillors working together.

Ben Smee

© 2008 Newcastle Herald

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