An Aboriginal councillor has criticised Sydney Mayor Clover Moore for ruining parts of the city, saying it was “time for a revamp” 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 deputy chair of the Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council is now hoping to become the city’s first Aboriginal mayor after announcing earlier this month that she is seeking the top job, with an election due to be held in September.
Ms Weldon is no stranger to the spotlight and has previously sparked controversy after calling for Australia Day to be renamed “Survival Day” and uttering a slur against British explorer Captain James Cook.
She has pledged to get the city back on track if elected mayor and has accused Moore of ruining several aspects of Sydney, including housing and nightlife.
Ms Moore has served as Mayor since 2004, the longest-serving leader since the council area was formed in 1842.
“It’s certainly time for a new leadership, a new vision and a new leadership. It’s time for a new ourselves,” Weldon said.
“It’s not about PR or creating a legacy or anything like that. It’s really about bringing the city together, and I think it’s very fragmented in a lot of different ways.
Sydney’s first Aboriginal councillor, Yvonne Weldon (pictured), has announced she will run for mayor in the upcoming local government election.
‘What’s disappointing is that we see parts of our city that are dying, and it’s important to have new leadership, and you’re not going to do it with the same person who’s been there for two decades.
“I’ve always been about community engagement and doing so in a meaningful way. I’m running to be the next Mayor of Sydney. I’m running to build a better future.”
Ms Weldon said her vision for Sydney is one of inclusion, opportunity and accessibility for all residents, regardless of their social or economic standing.
He said he would work with the state government to create more affordable housing, including housing for workers and people trying to escape domestic violence.
“We have a city that people can’t afford to live in,” Weldon said.
‘We don’t have enough affordable housing and we need more homes for essential workers, creatives and those who are also escaping domestic and family violence.
‘I want to see mixed uses in parts of our city, and it can’t just be about those who can afford billion-dollar or million-dollar apartments.
“We need to look at where we can have these mixed developments that include people who are part of everyday life and who should be part of everyday life.”
Ms Weldon said it was “time for a renewal” as the city had suffered a decline under current Mayor Clover Moore, who has held the top job for two decades.
Ms Weldon criticised Ms Moore for the decline of art and nightlife in Sydney.
She described Oxford Street – which has a long history as one of Sydney’s shopping and nightlife centres – as “in a sorry state”.
‘Our nightlife is in retreat, Our arts institutions are suffering and we are losing too many creative people and young people. people,” Ms. Weldon said.
‘All this happened over many years under the supervision of Clover Moore.’
He added that basic services, including waste management, garbage collection and asbestos cleanup, had also declined during Moore’s administration.
Ms Weldon also wants to speed up the city’s transition to a green economy and suggested a “solar sharing” policy to ensure people who cannot afford the switch can support greener alternatives.
“To truly achieve net zero emissions, everyone needs to be able to contribute. It’s important to support businesses and people living in our city,” he said.
‘I will establish a discount on rates for homes and businesses that install solar energy or switch to green energy.
‘If people are lucky enough to be able to rent, but can’t afford to switch to solar, then sharing solar within apartments is also an option.
“We can start helping others to be able to follow a greener economic direction, rather than just struggling in a non-green way.”
Ms Weldon also promised to remove the word “Lord” from the title of the role if elected, saying she wanted to work “alongside” Australians and not “preside over them”.
The councillor had previously tabled a motion to remove the word “Lord” from the mayor’s title, but it was rejected.
“It’s actually optional, you don’t have to have it… and to me, it actually represents that you’re above people in a superior way,” Weldon said.
“I am not like that. In reality, I am part of the people and I want to serve alongside them, not preside over them.
“I also think of the connotations that the term ‘Sir’ has that go back to colonial times. It’s about the people, not the position.”
Ms Weldon explained that she visited London and found parts of the city to be extremely inclusive. The city’s mayor was also “just a mayor”, despite having its own colonial history and being a global business centre.
She added that her campaign to have a publicly funded statue of an Indigenous figure was still ongoing despite being rejected by the council twice.
Ms Weldon hoped that if elected, the council would approve the proposal to erect a statue to commemorate 15-year-old Patyegarang Indigenous woman. – for his role in preserving the Gadigal language.
“This is an opportunity to be inclusive, to have a city and represent history in a fair way,” Weldon said.
There is There are 25 statues honouring British settlers dotted around Sydney’s CBD, but not a single statue on public land celebrating a historical First Nations figure.
If elected, Ms. Weldon (center) said she would work to create more affordable housing, accelerate the city’s transition to a greener economy and champion local artists and businesses.
Ms Weldon said her vision for Sydney is one of inclusion, opportunity and accessibility for all residents, regardless of their social, cultural or economic background (pictured, second from left).
Ms Weldon made headlines in 2023 after turning an interview about waste disposal into an insult to British explorer James Cook, calling the anniversary of his death “a special day”.
She has also previously campaigned for Australia Day to be renamed “Survival Day” to recognise “atrocities” committed against Aboriginal people.
Ms Weldon has held numerous senior positions in the NSW Government, Aboriginal-controlled and non-governmental organisations, working in health, human services, child protection and housing.
She has served as elected chair of the Metropolitan Aboriginal Local Land Council, vice-chair of the New South Wales Australia Day Council and 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 first novel, Sixty-Seven Days, a story about love, family and culture.
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