A disciplinary panel has found that Glenorchy City Council alderman Peter Ridler breached Tasmania’s local-government code of conduct after a series of incidents involving female council employees. The findings were made public this week, bringing renewed attention to workplace behaviour and accountability among elected representatives in the Hobart-area council.

The complaint was lodged last year by former council chief executive Tony McMullen, who said concerns had been raised about interactions between Ridler and several female employees. A three-member conduct panel examined the complaint and concluded that Ridler had engaged in inappropriate behaviour on several occasions during November and December 2024.

According to the panel’s determination, the conduct included touching employees on the back, shoulders and waist, physically turning one employee around to inspect the back of her work shirt, and taking an employee’s name badge from her clothing. The report also described an incident in which an employee felt pressured to provide her personal phone number.

The panel identified several comments it considered inappropriate in the workplace. These included telling a staff member to “get back to the kitchen” and using other remarks that the panel regarded as part of a wider pattern of unacceptable conduct. The findings were based on the panel’s assessment of the complaint and the evidence presented during its proceedings.

The panel said the behaviour continued even after Ridler had been advised that concerns had been raised. It concluded that he showed insufficient awareness of appropriate workplace conduct and disregarded advice provided by the council’s acting chief executive. The report also noted that concerns had been raised by other elected representatives.

Not every allegation was upheld. The panel dismissed some elements of the complaint, including allegations relating to bullying and particular provisions concerning the expression of personal views. The findings therefore relate to the specific breaches identified in the determination rather than every claim made in the original complaint.

The sanctions imposed were a formal reprimand, a one-month suspension from council duties and a requirement to attend training. The report was dated July 2025 but was only made public in October 2026, shortly before the local government elections. Ridler is seeking re-election and has served on Glenorchy City Council for more than 27 years, having first been elected in 1987, losing his seat in 2014 and returning in 2024.

The timing of the report means the findings may become an issue for voters assessing candidates and standards of conduct in local government. Ridler had been contacted for comment at the time of publication. The case also highlights the role of formal conduct procedures in investigating workplace complaints involving elected officials.

The panel’s findings concern breaches of a local-government code of conduct, not a criminal conviction. The consequences for Ridler’s political future will depend on the election and any further developments.