From Parliament to Council

November 13, 2024

Here is a list of former state and federal politicians who later tried or did return to serve in local government. Please send additions and corrections to stephen@maynereport.com. Also, check out this companion list of almost 200 former councillors who made it into state or federal Parliament.

Dick Adams: one of the few politicians who has served at all three levels. Started out as as a Labor state member in Tasmania representing Franklin from 1979 until 1982 then spent 20 years serving as the Federal Member for Lyons from 1993 until 2013, when he was defeated. Then won a seat on the Northern Midlands council in Tasmania in 2014 where he has served ever since, albeit with plenty of controversy along the way.

Catherine Cumming: almost went full circle from being an independent on Maribyrnong council to getting elected on the Derryn Hinch ticket into the upper house in the 2018 Victorian election but immediately turned independent until end of her term in 2022. Was looking good to be re-elected to Maribyrnong council in 2024 but after leading on first preferences in Bluestone Ward, she ultimately lost to Pradeep Tiwari 55-45 after distribution of preferences.

Robert Doyle: A former Victorian Liberal Opposition leader who represented the seat of Malvern from 1992 until 2005, then spent 10 years as Lord Mayor of Melbourne from 2008 until 2018 before resigning amidst sexual harassment allegations.

Andrew Katos: started out as a Geelong councillor, then made it into the Victorian Parliament as a Liberal and in 2024 made it back onto the City of Greater Geelong.

Steve Kons: served as Mayor of Burnie from 1997 to 1999 and as a Labor member with the Tasmanian House of Assembly in the electorate of Braddon. He was Deputy Premier of Tasmania from 2006-2008 and then returned to serve as Mayor of Burnie and was last re-elected in 2022.

Craig Langdon: councillor City of Heidelberg (1988 – 1994), then Labor MP for Ivanhoe (1996 -2010), until beaten in pre-selection battle by Anthony Carbines before returning to serve on Banyule council in 2012 and rising again to be mayor before exiting in 2020, largely because he failed to submit a photograph in the right format for the ballot book. Lost again in 2024 when attempting a return.

Peter Lockwood: made it into the Victorian Parliament as part of Labor's team in the 2002 Bracks landslide and has been off and on Knox City Council for the past 10 years-plus, managing a return in 2024.

Geoff Leigh: was the controversial member for Mordialloc during the Kennett years before losing his seat and then somehow managed to get elected at City of Bayside in the 2024 election, at the age of 72.

Gladys Liu: the Federal Liberal member for Chisholm, whose connections to the CCCP were controversial when she served, was elected as a City of Melbourne Cr in 2024 thanks to the profile of footballer Anthony Koutoufides and the money of former Labor candidate Intaj Khan, who made up the Leadership ticket of Team Kouta with Gladys leading the separate council ticket.

Neil Lucas: Liberal upper house member for Eumemmerring in the Victorian Parliament from 1996-2002 and then elected to City of Casey in 2003 and served as mayor in 2004-05.

Denise McGill: councillor with the City of Oakleigh from 1987-1994 including a stint as Mayor from 1991-1992. A Liberal member for Oakleigh, Victoria from 1992 until August 1999, who then later returned as a City of Monash councillor.

Clover Moore: First won the state seat of Bligh in 1988 and then switched to the seat of Sydney in 2007. Was simultaneously elected Sydney Lord Mayor in 2004 but then left Parliament in 2012 after new legislation made her choose between the two roles. Re-elected Lord Mayor with a record majority in 2016, then returned again in both 2020 and 2024.

Belinda Neal: served on Gosford City Council in the early 1990s before being parachuted into a Senate vacancy and then later holding the marginal lower house seat of Robertson before being defeated at the 2010 election. Returned to local government in 2024 winning a spot on the Central Coast council.

Peter Lockwood: spent a brief period on City of Knox before Jeff Kennett sacked all Victorian councils in 1994 and was later elected state Labor MP for Bayswater in Victoria from 2002 until 2006. Later returned to serve two terms at City of Knox in Melbourne's outer east from 2012 until 2020 when he was defeated. Successfully returned in the 2024 Victorian council elections.

Wayne Phillips: spent 14 years on Diamond Valley council, then served as the Liberal member for Eltham for a decade until 2002 before returning to public office as a City of Banyule councillor since 2005, but was defeated at the 2020 council elections.

Tim Quilty: went from being a Liberal Democrat on Wodonga council to the Victorian upper house assisted by some Glen Druery preference whispering magic but then lost in 2022 and was unsuccessful in attempting a return to Wodonga council in 2024.

Gary Rowe: a Liberal MP who served during the Kennett years and later spent time as a mayor and Cr at City of Casey before the council was sacked. Successfully attempted a return at the 2024 Casey elections.

Phillip Ruddock: John Howard's Immigration Minister spent 43 years in the House of Representatives but this wasn't enough so he later returned as Mayor of Hornsby before bowing out at the 2024 local government elections aged 81.

Ryan Smith: served as a Minister in the Baillieu Government and the state member for Warrandyte from for 17 years until departing in a 2023 by-election before later unsuccessfully attempting a return to politics as a councillor at City of Maroondah in the 2024 local government elections.

Mike Symon: was the Federal Labor member for Deakin from 2007 until 2013 and then served on City of Maroondah from 2014 until retiring at the 2024 election after moving to Queensland. Had multiple terms as mayor and was a good councillor.

Graham Watt: the former State Liberal MP for Burwood who gained notoriety when refusing to join a standing ovation for Rosie Batty, was unsuccessful in his run at City of Melton in the 2024 Victorian local government elections.

# Check out this companion list of almost 200 former councillors who made it into state or federal Parliament.

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From Parliament to Council

November 13, 2024

Here is a list of former state and federal politicians who later tried or did return to serve in local government. Please send additions and corrections to stephen@maynereport.com. Also, check out this companion list of almost 200 former councillors who made it into state or federal Parliament.