Peter Cox (mayor)
Peter Cox | |
---|---|
Mayor of the City of Greater Bendigo | |
In office 2014–2015 | |
Preceded by | Barry Lyons |
Succeeded by | Rod Fyffe |
Councillor of the City of Greater Bendigo for Whipstick Ward | |
In office 2012–2016 | |
Councillor of the City of Greater Bendigo for Eaglehawk Ward | |
In office 2008–2012 | |
Preceded by | Elaine Harrington |
Succeeded by | Ward Abolished |
Personal details | |
Nationality | Australian |
Political party | Independent |
Peter Cox OAM is an Australian former politician who served as mayor of the City of Greater Bendigo from 2014 to 2015 and as a councillor from 2008 to 2016.[1]
Political career
[edit]Cox was first elected to the council in 2008, where he served in the Eaglehawk Ward, achieving 32.73% of the primary vote and 58.45% of the two candidate preferred vote, defeating incumbent councillor Elaine Harrington.[2] In the 2012 election, Cox contested the Whipstick Ward after a new three-ward structure was introduced. He was elected with 33.71% of the vote.[3]
Cox was elected as mayor by the council in 2014, succeeding Barry Lyons.[1] He was officially installed as mayor on the night of 11 November, where he chaired a meeting to make a bid for upgrades to Bendigo Airport.[4] Like Lyons, Cox's career as mayor of Bendigo was significantly impacted by the controversy surrounding the approval of the city's first mosque.[5][6] The proposal, which he supported, faced strong opposition from some community members, leading to protests and public debate.[7] This issue became a focal point of his mayoralty, and the backlash somewhat overshadowed his broader work in local government.[citation needed]
In March 2016, Cox was ordered to apologise to two former councillors, after a misconduct finding was made against him. The councillors, Elise Chapman and Helen Leach, claimed that Cox breached conduct guidelines several times in September 2015, during Cox's tenure as mayor.[8][9] In April, Cox decided against challenging the misconduct finding, instead writing apologies to his two former colleagues.[9]
In 2022, Cox was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia for his services to the Bendigo community.[10][11]
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Past Councillors". City of Greater Bendigo. Archived from the original on 3 December 2024. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
- ^ "2008 council election results". Victorian Electoral Commission. Archived from the original on 30 December 2024. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
- ^ "2012 council election results". Victorian Electoral Commission. Archived from the original on 24 January 2025. Retrieved 25 January 2025.
- ^ "Bendigo Airport funds bid set to take off". ABC News. 11 November 2014. Retrieved 25 January 2025.
- ^ Holmes, Adam; Iles, Kieran (6 August 2015). "Bendigo mosque to go ahead, VCAT rules". Islamist Watch. Archived from the original on 3 December 2024. Retrieved 19 November 2024.
- ^ Holmes, Adam; Iles, Kieran (5 August 2015). "Bendigo mosque to go ahead, VCAT rules". Bendigo Advertiser. Archived from the original on 8 December 2024. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
- ^ "Bendigo Mayor felt 'numb, shocked' after anti-mosque protests turned ugly". ABC News. 17 September 2015. Archived from the original on 13 July 2024. Retrieved 25 January 2025.
- ^ Lenaghan, Peter (24 March 2016). "Misconduct finding made against ex-Bendigo mayor". ABC News. Archived from the original on 21 January 2025. Retrieved 25 January 2025.
- ^ a b Lenaghan, Peter (5 April 2016). "Ex-Bendigo mayor apologises to councillors". ABC News. Archived from the original on 21 January 2025. Retrieved 25 January 2025.
- ^ Schubert, Shannon (26 January 2022). "Central Victorians receive Australia Day honours, but for some recognition is bittersweet". ABC News. Archived from the original on 19 December 2024. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
- ^ Magrath, Jonathon (25 January 2022). "From road safety to local politics - Australia Day honours". Bendigo Times. Archived from the original on 7 December 2024. Retrieved 29 November 2024.