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Lord Mayor Michael Harbison

The Right Honourable Lord Mayor Of Adelaide
Mr Michael Harbison

Lord Mayor Michael HarbisonMichael Harbison, Lord Mayor of Adelaide, has been a Councillor and Deputy Lord Mayor since 1998; he was elected Lord Mayor in 2003 and 2007.

Adelaide has been rated as one of the world's top 5 cities in which to live for lifestyle, (Economist Intelligence Unit's Liveability Survey 2005) and Lord Mayor Harbison is passionate in fulfilling his vision for Adelaide to be known globally as Australia’s most liveable city.

Achievements

In his city governance role, Lord Mayor Harbison and his Councillors have achieved:

  • Critical mass of State Government Agencies in the Central Business District of Adelaide - CBD;
  • Goodwill with the State Government with legislation on a new Sustainable Development Act;
  • A new Development Act which is pro-development, pro-environment and pro-heritage;
  • CBD location of the new Carnegie Mellon University complementing the University of Adelaide and University of South Australia in the heart of the City of Adelaide;
  • The largest construction programs in the history of Adelaide City Council including new buildings for Santos, Hewlett Packard, and a new Central Bus Station – all on council land;
  • Redevelopment of North Terrace, Adelaide’s cultural precinct:- winner of Australia’s 2006 Best Urban Design Project;
  • Extension of Adelaide’s free bus service and free bicycle service, free Christmas concerts and Australia Day concerts; busking festivals and street markets.

Lord Mayor’s Civic role

A man of the people, Lord Mayor Harbison conducts his civic role with unprecedented energy and generosity. On a daily basis he meets and greets local people, visiting Ambassadors and dignitaries, international students, and increasingly, international business people, who have discovered that Adelaide is Australia’s most competitive business city.

Lord Mayor Harbison has set new and high benchmarks for his hosting of Civic Receptions, providing many and varied organisations with the benefit of civic endorsement. The Lord Mayor’s Civic Receptions are held for community service organisations, volunteer groups, professional, business and cultural organisations, for visiting Ambassadors – and for new international students and international business delegations.

The Lord Mayor sits on the following Boards and Committees

  • Adelaide City Council:
    – Presiding Member, City Strategy Committee
    – Member, City Services & Facilities Committee
    – Member, Corporate Strategy & Performance Committee
    – Member, Development Assessment Panel
    – Presiding Member, The Adelaide Parklands Authority
    – Member, Central Market Committee
  • Capital City Committee
  • Local Government Association:
    – Member, State Executive Committee Member of LGA State Executive Committee
    – Member, Metro Local Government Group 
    – Chair, Affordable Housing Working Group Meetings
    – Chair, ILUA Kaurna Negotiation Group
  • Council of Capital City Lord Mayors
  • Member, SA Multicultural Forum

Lord Mayor’s Family and interests

Lord Mayor Harbison is married and has 4 children. The Lady Mayoress Kathy Harbison, plays an active role in supporting the Lord Mayor at functions and events. The Lord Mayor’s interests are his family and golf.

Contact Details

Tel: 8203 7252 (W)
Fax: 8203 7534
Mobile: 0419 804 896
Mail: GPO Box 2252
Adelaide SA 5001
Email: m.harbison@adelaidecitycouncil.com