An Aboriginal councillor has slammed Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore for ruining parts of the city and claims it is ‘time for a refresh’ and a new leader.
Wiradjuri woman Yvonne Weldon became the first Indigenous councillor in the City of Sydney’s 180-year history when she was elected in 2021.
The Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council deputy chairwoman now hopes to become the city’s first Aboriginal mayor after announcing earlier this month that she is gunning for the top job – with an election due to be held in September.
Ms Weldon is no stranger to the spotlight and has previously courted controversy after she called for Australia Day to be renamed ‘Survival Day’ and made a slur against British explorer Captain James Cook.
She has vowed to get the city back on track if she is elected as mayor and accused Ms Moore of ruining several aspects of Sydney such as housing and the nightlife.
Ms Moore has served as mayor since 2004 – the longest running leader since the council area was formed in 1842.
‘It’s definitely time for renewed leadership, a renewed vision and a fresh leadership. It’s time for a refresh,’ Ms Weldon said.
‘It’s not about PR or legacy building or any of those things. It’s actually about bringing the city together, and I think it’s so fragmented in so many different ways.
City of Sydney’s first Aboriginal Councillor Yvonne Weldon (pictured) announced she was running for Mayor in the next local government elections
‘What’s disappointing is that you see parts of our city that is just dying off, and it’s important to have fresh leadership, and you’re not going to do that with the same person that’s been there for two decades.
‘I’ve always been about community engagement and in a meaningful way. I’m running to be Sydney’s next mayor. I’m running to build a better future.’
Ms Weldon said her vision for Sydney is one of inclusivity, opportunity and accessibility for all residents regardless of their social or economic standing.
She said she will work with state government to create more affordable housing, including homes for workers and people trying to escape domestic violence.
‘We have a city where people cannot afford to live,’ Ms Weldon said.
‘We don’t have enough affordable housing, and we need more homes for essential workers, creatives, and those people that are also escaping domestic and family violence.
‘I want to see mixed-use in parts of our city, and it can’t just be about the ones that can afford the multi-billion or million dollar apartments.
‘We need to see where we can have those mixed developments that include people that are part of everyday life and that should be a part of everyday life.’
Ms Weldon claimed it was ‘time for a refresh’ as the city had suffered a decline under current Lord Mayor Clover Moore – who has held the top job for two decades
Ms Weldon took a swipe at Ms Moore over Sydney’s decline in art and nightlife.
She labelled Oxford Street – which has had a long history as one of Sydney’s nightlife and shopping hotspots – as being ‘in a sad state’.
‘Our nightlife is in retreat, our arts institutions are suffering and we’re losing too many creatives and young people,’ Ms Weldon said.
‘This has all happened over many years on Clover Moore’s watch.’
She added basic services, including waste management, waste collection and asbestos clean-ups had also declined under Ms Moore.
Ms Weldon also wants to accelerate the city’s transition to a green economy and suggested a ‘solar sharing’ policy to ensure people who cannot afford to make the switch are able to support greener alternatives.
‘To truly reach net zero, everyone has to be able to contribute. It’s important to support businesses and the people that live in our city,’ she said.
‘I’ll establish a rates rebate for households and businesses who install solar or switch to green power.
‘If people are fortunate enough to rent, but cannot afford to switch to solar, then solar sharing within apartments is also an option.
‘We can start to assist others to be able to be on a greener economy direction, rather than sort of just struggling in a non-green way.’
Ms Weldon has also vowed to scrap ‘Lord’ from the job title if she is elected, claiming she wants to work ‘alongside’ Australians not ‘preside over them’.
The councillor had previously moved a motion to remove the ‘Lord’ from the mayoral title but it was voted down.
‘It’s actually optional, you don’t need to have it… and for me it actually represents that you’re above people in a superior way,’ Ms Weldon said.
‘That’s not who I am. I actually am just of the people and want to serve alongside them, not preside over them.
‘I also think about the connotations around the ‘Lord’ that sort of date back to colonial days. It’s about the people not the position.’
Ms Weldon explained she visited London and found that parts of the city were extremely inclusive. The city’s mayor was also ‘just a mayor’, despite having its own colonial history, and being a global centre of business.
She added that her campaign to have a publicly funded statue of an Indigenous figure was still ongoing despite being rejected by council twice.
Ms Weldon hoped, if elected, council would approve the proposal of erecting a statue to commemorate 15-year-old Indigenous woman Patyegarang – for her role in preserving the Gadigal language.
‘This is an opportunity to be inclusive. To have a city and represent history in a fair way,’ Ms Weldon said.
There are 25 statues honouring British colonists dotted throughout Sydney’s CBD but not one single statue on public land celebrating a First Nations historical figure.
If elected, Ms Weldon (centre) said she will work to create more affordable housing, accelerate the city’s transition to a greener economy and champion artists and local businesses
Ms Weldon said her vision for Sydney is one of inclusivity, opportunity and accessibility for all residents regardless of their social, cultural or economic standing (pictured, second from left)
Ms Weldon made headlines in 2023 after turning an interview about waste removal into a slur on British explorer James Cook, calling the anniversary of his death ‘a special day’.
She has also previously campaigned for Australia Day to be renamed as ‘Survival Day’ to acknowledge the ‘atrocities’ committed against Aboriginal people.
Ms Weldon has held numerous senior positions in NSW Government, non-government and Aboriginal controlled organisations working across health, human services, child protection and housing.
She has served as the elected Chair of the Metropolitan, Local Aboriginal Land Council, Deputy Chair of the NSW Australia Day Council and as a Board member of Domestic Violence NSW.
In 2022, Ms Weldon was recognised as the NSW Aboriginal Woman of the Year and appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for her service to the Aboriginal community.
She also recently published her debut novel, Sixty-Seven Days, a story about love, family and culture.
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