Charles Wooley, the veteran journalist best known for his decades-long tenure at Nine Network’s 60 Minutes, has announced his candidacy for lord mayor of Hobart in the upcoming October city council elections. At 77, Wooley is seeking to leverage his extensive experience as a reporter and foreign correspondent to bring what he describes as “much-needed common sense” to local government.

Wooley, whose career has spanned print, radio, and television journalism, spent many years reporting internationally before returning to Australia and distancing himself from the fast-paced media centers on the mainland. He relocated from Sydney to Hobart in the late 1990s, a move that initially surprised colleagues and media executives, including Nine’s late proprietor Kerry Packer. Packer reportedly questioned whether Wooley’s choice to live in Tasmania—a thousand kilometers from the network’s headquarters—was financially practical, given the pay cuts Wooley accepted to cover his commuting costs.

Despite such skepticism, Wooley has long expressed a deep affection for Hobart, citing its natural beauty, cultural charm, and strong community spirit as reasons for his permanent move. Born in Launceston and having attended university in Hobart, he views the city not only as home but also as an ideal environment in which to raise his children.

Now semi-retired, Wooley regularly contributes columns for Nine and local publications, but his decision to enter local politics reflects a desire to influence Hobart’s future amid what he calls a “toxic culture war” currently affecting the city council. He said he hopes to bring an independent, pragmatic perspective to the role, free from party politics, focusing on fundamental local government responsibilities such as managing rates, roads, and waste. Crucially, Wooley advocates adding a “fourth R” — reason — to the council’s priorities.

He criticized what he sees as misdirected spending on projects like bike lanes, which he contends are underused in Hobart’s uniquely hilly terrain, and emphasized the urgent need to address affordable housing. Wooley also pledged that if elected lord mayor, he would cap council rates on his first day in office, viewing financial restraint as a key tool against wasteful government expenditure.

Acknowledging that his entry into politics will attract criticism partly due to the divisive atmosphere on social media and in public debate, Wooley nonetheless remains optimistic that his journalistic background—characterized by engagement with diverse viewpoints—gives him a unique capacity to navigate and unify a fractured local government.

Above all, Wooley underscored that his motivation is not personal financial gain but rather ensuring that current and future generations can enjoy living in Hobart. “All I want to do,” he said, “is ensure my children — and theirs — can enjoy living in this stunning city as much as I have.”