Kristie Johnston

Kristie Joy Johnston (born 22 December 1980)^[1] is an Australian politician. She was elected as the Mayor of City of Glenorchy in 2014 and 2018 and is an Independent member for the seat of Division of Clark, having been elected in the 2021 Tasmanian state election.

Kristie Johnston MP
Member of the Tasmanian Parliament for Clark
Incumbent
Assumed office 1 May 2021
Personal details
Born	(1980-12-22) 22 December 1980 (age 43)
Political party	Independent
Website	kristiejohnston.com.au

Political career

Johnston was first elected in 2014 as the mayor of the City of Glenorchy, winning 59% of the vote against incumbent mayor Stuart Slade.^[2] In 2015, Johnston claimed that the city council had breached regulations by voting on making 16 employees redundant without her presence.^[3] Federal independent MP for the Division of Denison, Andrew Wilkie, who endorsed Johnston for mayor, criticised this as "puerile behaviour", saying that some aldermen were "sore losers" and trying to create an impression of chaos under Johnston's mayoralty.^[4] She was re-elected in 2018 as mayor, winning 86.4% of the vote.^[5][6]

In a press release on 27 February 2021, Johnston announced she would run for the seat of Clark in the next Tasmanian state election.^[7] A snap election was ultimately called a month later, with the election date set for 1 May 2021.^[8] After the counting of final preferences, Johnston won the final seat in Clark with 11% of the primary vote.^[9] Johnston's win was the first time an independent candidate had won a seat in the House of Assembly since Bruce Goodluck in 1996.^[10]

In March 2022 Johnston said of the Tasmanian Integrity Commission, that there is "snowball's chance in hell that this government will move to reform and strengthen the Integrity Commission in Tasmania".^[11]

Johnston is currently providing the Rockliff Liberal Government with confidence and supply alongside all three members of the Jacqui Lambie Network and former-Labor leader and independent MP for Franklin, David O'Byrne.^[12]

References

1. "Kristie Joy Johnston". Members of the Parliament of Tasmania. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
2. "Mayors dumped as local council Tas polls deliver sweeping change". ABC News. 28 October 2014. Archived from the original on 12 May 2021. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
3. "Glenorchy Mayor Kristie Johnston urges fellow aldermen to reconsider restructure decision". ABC News. 16 March 2015. Archived from the original on 12 May 2021. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
4. "Denison MP Andrew Wilkie raises Glenorchy council's 'puerile behaviour' in Federal Parliament". ABC News. 11 February 2015. Archived from the original on 12 May 2021. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
5. Robertson, David (16 January 2018). "Kristie Johnston returns as Glenorchy Mayor after landslide council election victory". ABC News. Archived from the original on 12 May 2021. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
6. "Glenorchy City Council Election Results". Tasmanian Electoral Commission. Archived from the original on 12 May 2021. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
7. "Kristie Johnston To Run As Independent At Upcoming State Election". Kristie Johnston. 27 February 2021. Archived from the original on 12 May 2021. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
8. Boseley, Matilda (26 March 2021). "Tasmania election 2021: Peter Gutwein sends state to early poll". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 12 May 2021. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
9. "Clark results - 2021 State election Tasmania". Tasmanian Electoral Commission. Archived from the original on 12 May 2021. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
10. "Tasmanian Liberals have won majority government, ABC's Antony Green says". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 12 May 2021. Archived from the original on 12 May 2021. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
11. "Little chance of any teeth for this corruption watchdog". ABC News. 10 March 2022. Retrieved 22 December 2022.
12. "Premier Rockliff seals deals with key independents to prop up Tasmanian Liberal government". ABC News. 24 April 2024. Retrieved 8 May 2024.

Civic offices
Preceded by Stuart Slade	Mayor of Glenorchy 2014–2021	Succeeded by Bec Thomas