City of Hobart councillor, Louise Bloomfield says her campaign for Lord Mayor will be centred on a simple question: ‘what sort of city are we leaving to the next generation?’
As a practising accountant and Hobart small-business owner of more than 25 years, she says financial discipline would be central to her approach should she be elected Lord Mayor next month.
“Every dollar Council spends ultimately comes from somebody — a pensioner, a family, a landlord, a shopkeeper or a business trying to employ people,” said Cr Bloomfield.
“We should never forget that.”
“My vision is a Hobart that is safe, prosperous, accessible and confident — a city where young people can see a future, older residents can remain connected to their community, businesses want to invest and Council is once again respected for the way it conducts itself.
“Hobart has spent enough time talking about what has gone wrong. This election should be about what we are going to build next.”
Cr Bloomfield’s work since she joined the Council in November 2022 has included protecting YouthARC’s place in the city, securing further Council investment in Beacon Foundation school-to-work programs, advocating for stronger TAFE pathways, chairing the City’s economic development and accessibility work, supporting additional disability parking, working to improve Salamanca Market arrangements and pushing for greater financial discipline around Council borrowing.
“My approach has always been to get people into the same room, find the practical solution and get on with the job,” she said.
“As Lord Mayor, I want that approach to become the culture of Hobart City Council.”
She says it’s time for Hobart to think more ambitiously about its role as Tasmania’s capital city.
“Being a capital city is not about having a grander title. It means taking responsibility for leadership.”
“Hobart should be working with surrounding councils, the State and Federal Governments and the private sector on the major challenges that no council can solve alone — transport, housing, infrastructure, workforce development, disaster resilience and economic growth.”
Cr Bloomfield says she is standing on a platform of professional, calm leadership, stronger economic opportunity, safer and more accessible streets, responsible financial management and a Council that works constructively with the community, business and other levels of government.
“Hobart does not need another term consumed by personalities, arguments and political theatre,” she said.
“We have serious work to do. We need to strengthen our economy, create reasons for young people to build their careers here, prepare our city for fire and flood risk, look after ageing infrastructure and make Hobart a city that businesses, families and future generations can have confidence in.”
But she said keeping rates under control cannot mean allowing Hobart to stand still.
“The choice is not between saving money and having ambition. Good government does both.”
View Cr Bloomfield’s campaign page here.
