Alderman seeking re-election suspended for allegedly touching female staff

A Tasmanian council alderman who is seeking re-election engaged in inappropriate behaviour, including touching female council employees, according to a report made public this week.

A local government code of conduct panel investigated a complaint made against Glenorchy City Council Alderman Peter Ridler last year by the council's former chief executive, Tony McMullen.

"It had come to his [Mr McMullen's] attention that a number of female workers were distressed after interactions with Ald Ridler," the panel's determination report reads.

The panel, comprised of Lynn Mason, Philip Cocker and David Palmer, found Alderman Ridler breached the council code of conduct on several days in November and December 2024 by:

• A physical approach to a female staff member when she was adjusting the fan in a committee room, during which he allegedly rubbed her back.
• Saying during the council's annual general meeting while looking directly at a female staff member that he would "get his whip out" to try to have the council's annual report given to elected members more quickly.
• Telling another staff member to "stick to your knitting and get back to the kitchen" during a council workshop.
• Using the phrase "like a n***** in the woodpile" at a council workshop.
• Requiring a female staff member to give him her personal phone number "in a way that made her feel as if she had no choice but to comply with his demand" and contrary to council policy.
• Putting his arm around a female staff member's waist when she was showing him a form he needed to complete.
• Standing "unnecessarily directly behind" a female staff member while she was showing him some information on her computer. The panel said the staff member felt "trapped against the desk".
• Seizing the name badge of a female employee "from where it was clipped to her clothing on her chest when she introduced herself to him".
• Putting his hands on a female employee's shoulders and physically turning her around to see what was written on the back of her work shirt at a community barbecue.

The panel said Ald Ridler "continued to behave inappropriately and in breach of the code" even after telling the council's acting chief executive during a meeting in December 2024 that he was "clear on the issues raised" and that he would not continue those behaviours.

Some elements of the complaint, including allegations that Ald Ridler bullied staff members and that he breached sections of the code relating to expressing personal views, were dismissed.

The panel determined that Ald Ridler's use of phrases such as "I'll get the whip out", "get back to the kitchen" and "n***** in a woodpile" were not "expressions of personal views" but rather "his patterns of speech".

'A lack of awareness of proper conduct'

The panel said it determined Ald Ridler's behaviour, in addition to breaching the code of conduct, exhibited a "lack of awareness of proper conduct in modern Australian society, particularly in the workplace".

It said Ald Ridler had "exhibited a wilful disregard for the advice given him" by the acting chief executive.

The panel also noted that another alderman had spoken to Ald Ridler about his behaviour with staff, and that the behaviours had been raised in a phone call to the acting chief executive from the deputy mayor.

"The panel reasonably concludes that Ald Ridler's behaviour was causing concern within the elected member group, as well as within the staff," the report reads.

During the hearing on May 27, 2025, Ms Mason as chair outlined the procedures to be followed and a summary of what was being investigated.

According to the panel's report, Ald Ridler made a statement outlining the reasons why he believed the hearing should not proceed.

"These included his belief that the hearing was not being conducted under what he termed 'the proper code of conduct'," the report reads.

The panel said Ald Ridler alleged that there was no "uniform code of conduct in Tasmania when the complaint was made" and that "the Glenorchy City Council had no code of conduct in place at the time".

Ms Mason told Ald Ridler that the panel "disagreed with his view on this matter".

"Ald Ridler was invited to continue, but said that he would 'leave it at that', and reminded the panel that he had rights of appeal to a 'higher authority' in the event of an unfavourable determination by the panel," the report reads.

Ridler left hearing before complainant's opening statement

When Mr McMullen was invited to make his opening statement, Ald Ridler said he, his advocate and his support person would leave the hearing because he did not want to "condone what is going on".

Mr McMullen told the panel Ald Ridler had alleged that "council officers had colluded to tarnish his reputation".

"Mr McMullen denied that this was the case," the panel's report reads.

"He noted that where the alleged behaviours had occurred in a public or group context, Ald Ridler had not denied that they had happened, although he did downplay the significance of such behaviour in his response to the complaint.

"Where there were no witnesses to the alleged incidents, Ald Ridler absolutely denied that they had occurred, even though the affected employees had reported the incidents to their supervisor immediately after the event."

Ald Ridler was first elected to the Glenorchy council in 1987. He lost his seat at the 2014 election, and was re-elected 10 years later. He has served more than 27 years on the council.

The panel said for nine of those years, all Tasmanian councillors and aldermen had been subject to a code of conduct.

While some "slight changes" had been made during the period Ald Ridler was not on the council, the panel assumed he would be "familiar with the code and the need to comply with it".

The sanctions imposed by the panel were a reprimand, a one-month suspension from council duties and a requirement to attend training.

Ald Ridler has been contacted for comment.

The report was dated July 2025, but only made public this week.