Are you experienced? Mayoral candidates brand Mallard an ‘ageist’

BY MICK ROBERTS

Liberal councillor Shayne Mallard has asked Clover Moore to step aside and make way for a ‘new generation of positive leaders’. But Mallard’s opponents have labelled him an ageist and discriminatory.
Cr Mallard has described his team as a positive alternative to four more years under Clover Moore and her team of independents.
He has accused Cr Moore of ‘running Sydney down’ and called for the Lord Mayor to make way for a positive new generation of civic leaders.
“There is no under-estimating the power of the positive,’ said the 42-year-old.
“As Lord Mayor with my exciting energetic and young Liberal team I offer the power of belief in Sydney’s greatness’.
He believes that Sydney’s future lies in ‘our talented and emerging generation of corporate and civic leaders’.
“When I look around Australia and the globe, I see a new generation of positive talented young leaders in both corporate and public life stepping up to the plate to take on the great challenges of today that we have inherited,’ he said.
Cr Moore, 62, has hit back at suggestions she is too old to be Sydney Lord Mayor. She said the city needs a dedicated team of experienced councillors.
‘What matters is whether councillors will effectively represent our communities, work hard, consult and achieve practical results,’ she said.
“The independent team is committed to effective, consultative, progressive and visionary leadership, and includes candidates from across the city with a range of ages, skills and cultural backgrounds.
“If I am re-elected, I look forward to working with all councillors, young or old, who are willing to maintain the momentum and consensus for positive change that we have developed over the past four years.”
Labor’s mayoral candidate Meredith Burgmann said she did not try and hide her age.
‘I’m proud of my history fighting over-development in the city and standing up for residents. I’ve been privileged to spend many years as a community activist and representative and think that the lessons I have learnt in this time would make me a better Lord Mayor,’ she said.
‘I think this election has nothing to do with age, and Cr Mallard’s ageism is unhelpful and discriminatory.
‘This election is about values and principles. My values are integrity and a desire to get things fixed for residents. I don’t think it matters what age you are, what matters is having a positive vision for the City and wanting to help improve the lives of city residents.
‘If Cr Mallard is so concerned about a new generation of leaders, why didn’t he speak out when an ageing John Howard refused to let go of the Prime Ministership’ Cr Mallard should stop playing ageist games and start articulating his vision for Sydney,’ she said.
The Greens’ mayoral candidate Chris Harris said local government has never attracted young civic leaders because of the low pay.
‘The system mitigates against young people who can’t afford the poor remuneration councillors receive,’ Cr Harris said.
‘Younger people usually have young families and are paying off a mortgage and need a much higher income than the role of a councillor pays,’ the 57-year-old said.
He said the position of councillor lends itself to self-employed people or retirees who are able to put the time into the role.
He added that age should be no barrier to holding public office, as long as the person was able to do the job satisfactorily.