Nuatali Nelmes

Nuatali Nelmes
Personal details
Born Nuatali Josephine Scobie
Nationality Australian
Political party Australian Labor Party
Spouse(s) Stuart Nelmes
Residence Newcastle, New South Wales
Education University of Newcastle
Profession Lord Mayor
Website http://www.nuatalinelmes.com/

Nuatali Josephine Nelmes is an Australian politician. She has been the Labor Lord Mayor of Newcastle since 15 November 2014, when she was elected in a by-election.[1]

Nelmes studied a business degree in industrial relations and marketing at the University of Newcastle, and joined the Labor Party when she was 20.[2] She was elected to the City of Newcastle council in 2008, succeeding her father, long-serving Labor councillor Paul Scobie.[3][4] She was the Labor candidate for Lord Mayor at the 2012 election, and was endorsed by former state MP Jodi McKay. Nelmes was an early front-runner, but was defeated by developer and conservative independent candidate Jeff McCloy.[5][6][7][8] She stood for the Senate in the unwinnable fifth position on the Labor ticket at the 2013 federal election, and nominated for preselection for the 2014 Newcastle state by-election, losing to fellow councillor Tim Crakanthorp.[9][10] She has also served as a member of the Labor Party's national policy forum.[11]

In mid-2014, McCloy resigned as Lord Mayor after becoming involved in a corruption investigation into illegal donations to MPs in the region. Nelmes was again the Labor candidate at the resulting by-election, and was successful, receiving 42% of the vote to closest rival and conservative independent Brad Luke's 24%. [12][13] She had campaigned on opposition to the truncation of the Newcastle railway line, support funding the Newcastle Art Gallery expansion, campaigned for urban renewal in the inner city, and campaigned to overturn cost saving measures to council services that had occurred under McCloy.[14] She has also supported a Newcastle bid for the 2030 Commonwealth Games.[15] Nelmes is only the second female Lord Mayor of Newcastle after popular 1970s-era mayor Joy Cummings. Her victory also resulted in Labor taking control of the local, state and federal political offices in Newcastle for the first time since 1998.[16]

References

  1. ↑ "New mayor Labor's Nuatali Nelmes cruises to victory". Newcastle Herald. 15 November 2014. Retrieved 16 November 2014.
  2. ↑ Harris, Michelle (22 February 2014). "Nuatali puts her hand up". Newcastle Herald.
  3. ↑ "Daughter wins seat". Newcastle Herald. 15 September 2008.
  4. ↑ Thompson, Frances (20 September 2008). "Young blood". Newcastle Herald.
  5. ↑ "Goodbye, I wish you well: Jodi". Newcastle Herald. 13 September 2011.
  6. ↑ Smee, Ben (18 February 2012). "Nelmes named for mayor". Newcastle Herald.
  7. ↑ Smee, Ben (4 August 2012). "Divided they stand". Newcastle Herald.
  8. ↑ "Challenge to deliver progressive vision". Newcastle Herald. 10 September 2012.
  9. ↑ Harris, Michelle (6 September 2013). "Councillors on Senate ballot". Newcastle Herald.
  10. ↑ "Baird braces for ICAC by-election fallout". Australian Associated Press. 12 August 2014.
  11. ↑ Harris, Michelle (22 February 2014). "Nuatali puts her hand up". Newcastle Herald.
  12. ↑ "Councillor Nelmes wants to restore trust in good leadership". Newcastle Herald. 28 August 2014.
  13. ↑ "Newcastle Labor councillor Nuatali Nelmes will become next Lord Mayor". Maitland Mercury. 17 November 2014.
  14. ↑ "Labor's Newcastle resurgence". Newcastle Herald. 16 November 2014. Retrieved 17 November 2014.
  15. ↑ "Newcastle prepares for Games bid". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 19 December 2012. And advocated against funding the Anzac Memorial Walk.
  16. ↑ Gordon, Jason (17 November 2014). "Labor regains its heartland with Nelmes as lord mayor". Newcastle Herald.
Civic offices
Preceded by
Jeff McCloy		 Lord Mayor of Newcastle
2014–present 		Incumbent
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