YES LORD MAYOR
INSIDE THE POLITICS OF BRISBANE CITY HALL
Julian Simmonds
Paperback, 220 pages, $39.95
ISBN 9781922449788
September 2021 Release
“Local Government may be about roads, rates and rubbish but nobody
said that this level of government can’t also play a significant role in
adding to the economic success of a city or regional area. Julian has
captured the unconventional thinking and actions that went towards the
shaping of a new modern and respected Brisbane.”
- Graham Quirk, former Lord Mayor of Brisbane
“Not enough is written about local government in Australia - the
grassroots of our democracy - and Julian’s contribution is both welcome
and valuable.
Julian’s unique personal insights capture some of the values, key
decisions and on-the-ground achievements that have helped to ensure the
LNP Council team have been trusted by Brisbane residents to set the
direction of Australia’s largest council for almost 20 years.
Most importantly, with ongoing renewal in our team - both in people
and ideas - our collective commitment to building a better Brisbane
remains as fresh as it was on day one.”
- Adrian Schrinner, Lord Mayor of Brisbane
From the Introduction
This is not a history book. It does not come close to covering every
important moment in the life of Brisbane for the period I was involved.
Notwithstanding, I trust the events I have chosen represent some of the
key moments for the LNP Council team during this period, offer an
illustration of the players, their actions and lives leading Australia’s
largest local government.
The book contains only one perspective – my own. The events are
described through the prism of my role or proximity to them. It is
unashamedly an insider’s account of the period and the way I saw it.
Some of the events represent important and worthwhile policy
achievements. Others are Utopia-esque in their bureaucratic ineptitude, a
satire that too often resembles reality. Some are downright failures
and mistakes, including several of my own. Whether met with success,
ineptitude or failure, my experience of the players is they approached
their role with good intentions, a desire to give their best and with
the hope that they could make a difference to the city they love.
About the Author
Julian went to work in Brisbane City Council in 2008 as a policy
adviser to then Lord Mayor Campbell Newman before he won the Walter
Taylor Ward By-election. Elevated to Cabinet six months later, he served across
three different Cabinet portfolios helping shape Brisbane through some
of its most challenging events. After a decade in Council, and at the
age of 34, he was elected as the Federal Member for Ryan.
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