Councillor Yvonne Weldon AM is running to be the next City of Sydney Mayor in the council election this weekend, having been elected as the first Aboriginal councillor in the City of Sydney’s 180-year history three years ago.
An Independent councillor, Weldon announced her campaign at the beginning of August, saying she’s “running to build a better future”.
Her opponent for the mayoral position is Clover Moore, who has been serving as Lord Mayor of the City of Sydney since 2004.
Removing the title of “Lord” from the position is one of Yvonne’s election pledges as she says the word is inconsistent with contemporary, multicultural egalitarian values.
“Lord suggests aristocracy and superiority. The mayor ought to be a servant of the people, rather than their master,” said Weldon.
Local government elections in NSW are held every 4 years, and the next election for the City of Sydney Council will be held on Saturday 14 September 2024.
Other candidates running for Mayor of Sydney, include Labor’s Zann Maxwell and Liberal’s Lyndon Gannon.
Yvonne Weldon’s background
Three years ago, Weldon made history after she was elected as the first Aboriginal councillor in the City of Sydney’s 180-year history.
She was born and raised in inner Sydney but maintains strong ties to her Wiradjuri homelands of Cowra and the Riverina areas of New South Wales.
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 Yvonne 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.
Her vision for Sydney
Weldon is looking to build more affordable housing, accelerate the transition to a green economy and champion local artists and businesses.
“I’ll work with the State Government to approve more housing and require major developments to include affordable rental housing built on site,” said Weldon.
“I’ll also double the City’s Affordable Housing Fund to provide more homes for essential workers, creatives and those escaping domestic violence.”
“We’ll continue to electrify Council operations. But if we’re to reach net zero, we need others to do the same. I’ll establish a rates rebate for households and businesses who install solar or switch to green power.”
Weldon also said she’ll “invest in community infrastructure, cut red tape for creative and cultural endeavours, and incentivise mixed-use development and design excellence.”
Speaking to the state of Oxford Street– a long time project of Lord Mayor Clover Moore– Weldon described it 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. This has all happened over many years on Clover Moore’s watch,” she said.
“So too has the decline in basic services. Things like waste management, and the asbestos clean-up which has been far too slow.”
“I’ve learnt a lot over my first term and my work in senior positions in government and community organisations. I’m running to be Sydney’s first Aboriginal Mayor. A Mayor who serves rather than presides. I’m ready and the time is right. Sydney, once more, let’s make history together.”