Peter Cox (mayor)

Peter Cox OAM is an Australian former politician who served as mayor of the City of Greater Bendigo from 2014 to 2015 and as a councillor from 2008 to 2016.^[1]

Peter Cox OAM
Mayor of the City of Greater Bendigo
In office 2014–2015
Preceded by	Barry Lyons
Succeeded by	Rod Fyffe
Councillor of the City of Greater Bendigo for Whipstick Ward
In office 2012–2016
Councillor of the City of Greater Bendigo for Eaglehawk Ward
In office 2008–2012
Preceded by	Elaine Harrington
Succeeded by	Ward Abolished
Personal details
Nationality	Australian
Political party	Independent

Political career

Cox was first elected to the council in 2008, where he served in the Eaglehawk Ward, achieving 32.73% of the primary vote and 58.45% of the two candidate preferred vote, defeating incumbent councillor Elaine Harrington.^[2] In the 2012 election, Cox contested the Whipstick Ward after a new three-ward structure was introduced. He was elected with 33.71% of the vote.^[3]

Cox was elected as mayor by the council in 2014, succeeding Barry Lyons.^[1] He was officially installed as mayor on the night of 11 November, where he chaired a meeting to make a bid for upgrades to Bendigo Airport.^[4] Like Lyons, Cox's career as mayor of Bendigo was significantly impacted by the controversy surrounding the approval of the city's first mosque.^[5][6] The proposal, which he supported, faced strong opposition from some community members, leading to protests and public debate.^[7] This issue became a focal point of his mayoralty, and the backlash somewhat overshadowed his broader work in local government.^{[citation needed]}

In March 2016, Cox was ordered to apologise to two former councillors, after a misconduct finding was made against him. The councillors, Elise Chapman and Helen Leach, claimed that Cox breached conduct guidelines several times in September 2015, during Cox's tenure as mayor.^[8][9] In April, Cox decided against challenging the misconduct finding, instead writing apologies to his two former colleagues.^[9]

In 2022, Cox was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia for his services to the Bendigo community.^[10][11]

References

1. "Past Councillors". City of Greater Bendigo. Archived from the original on 3 December 2024. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
2. "2008 council election results". Victorian Electoral Commission. Archived from the original on 30 December 2024. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
3. "2012 council election results". Victorian Electoral Commission. Archived from the original on 24 January 2025. Retrieved 25 January 2025.
4. "Bendigo Airport funds bid set to take off". ABC News. 11 November 2014. Retrieved 25 January 2025.
5. Holmes, Adam; Iles, Kieran (6 August 2015). "Bendigo mosque to go ahead, VCAT rules". Islamist Watch. Archived from the original on 3 December 2024. Retrieved 19 November 2024.
6. Holmes, Adam; Iles, Kieran (5 August 2015). "Bendigo mosque to go ahead, VCAT rules". Bendigo Advertiser. Archived from the original on 8 December 2024. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
7. "Bendigo Mayor felt 'numb, shocked' after anti-mosque protests turned ugly". ABC News. 17 September 2015. Archived from the original on 13 July 2024. Retrieved 25 January 2025.
8. Lenaghan, Peter (24 March 2016). "Misconduct finding made against ex-Bendigo mayor". ABC News. Archived from the original on 21 January 2025. Retrieved 25 January 2025.
9. Lenaghan, Peter (5 April 2016). "Ex-Bendigo mayor apologises to councillors". ABC News. Archived from the original on 21 January 2025. Retrieved 25 January 2025.
10. Schubert, Shannon (26 January 2022). "Central Victorians receive Australia Day honours, but for some recognition is bittersweet". ABC News. Archived from the original on 19 December 2024. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
11. Magrath, Jonathon (25 January 2022). "From road safety to local politics - Australia Day honours". Bendigo Times. Archived from the original on 7 December 2024. Retrieved 29 November 2024.