During the Coalition for Biological Reality Forum “Gender Identity in Law” at Hobart Town Hall on 26 February 2022, transgender flags were flown from the building. The display raised immediate questions in Council meetings about who had authorised the decision.
Despite repeated questions to the Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds and the CEO Kelly Grigsby, full and transparent answers were not provided.
What the RTI Documents Reveal
In response to a Right to Information request, Hobart City Council released a tranche of documents including:
- Statutory Declarations from the Lord Mayor, the CEO, and a statutory declaration from Ms Sarah Carson, Hall-keeping Services Coordinator at the Hobart Town Hall about flying of transgender flags
- Internal correspondence between Council staff, and
- Emails between Council and transgender lobby group Working It Out (WIO).
These documents reveal a troubling inconsistency.
The Lord Mayor’s Denial
In her Statutory Declaration dated 17 August 2022, Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds stated emphatically that she had no involvement in the flag decision. Among her statements:
- “I did not order, instruct or improperly influence using my office … in relation to the event.”
- “I was not involved in or consulted in this decision.”
- “There is no basis to allege that I treated anyone unfairly, caused offence or embarrassment, or bullied or harassed any person.”
- “My personal views have not been expressed in relation to this matter.”
She also insisted: “I have been transparent and honest at all times regarding the flying of the transgender flags.”
The Email from Working It Out
Yet the RTI documents include an email from Working It Out to Council on 24 February 2022, which reads:
“I’m writing with a request that comes at the suggestion of the Lord Mayor (via another Equality Tasmania Board member) … that the Lord Mayor suggested we (Equality Tasmania on behalf of the trans community) should arrange/request for the trans flag banners be flown over the Town Hall on the day of the Forum – this Saturday, February 26. Is there any chance of that happening at such late notice?”
This email directly contradicts the Lord Mayor’s claim that she was not involved in or consulted about the decision.
Why It Matters
Flying transgender flags over Hobart Town Hall on the very day the forum was being held sent a powerful political message. For Council to deny involvement — while RTI documents show the Lord Mayor herself suggested the request — raises serious concerns about transparency, accountability, and the integrity of statutory declarations made by elected officials.
The community deserves answers:
- Why did the Lord Mayor deny involvement when emails show otherwise?
- Why were residents’ questions in Council not met with full and honest disclosure?
- How can the public trust the accuracy of statutory declarations if evidence suggests otherwise?
Conclusion
The RTI documents show that Hobart City Council’s decision to fly transgender flags on 26 February 2022 was not a neutral act, nor was it handled with openness. Instead, it reveals a troubling gap between what was declared and what actually occurred.
For trust in local government to be restored, Hobart residents must be given a clear and honest explanation.