I’m Edwin Johnstone, Chair of the Confederation of Greater Hobart Business and a strong advocate for our city.
I work to ensure local businesses have a clear voice in shaping a vibrant, accessible, and prosperous Hobart.
By working with business, community, and government, I aim to support a city where commerce, culture, and community thrive.
My vision is for a Hobart that is welcoming, dynamic, and full of opportunity for everyone who lives, works, and visits here.
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Ongoing Problems for Hobart CBD Bike Lanes
18th January 2026 - Hobart’s CBD bike lanes are plagued by ongoing problems.
Police have raised concerns that poor enforcement is compromising emergency response capability. Growing congestion on Collins Street is also raising serious safety and traffic concerns, driven by reduced turning capacity at key intersections and the removal of lanes in Victoria Street.
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Our piecemeal water repairs are draining
15th January 2026 - Last year, Hobart was given a blunt reminder of what happens when underground infrastructure is allowed to age out of sight and out of mind. World War II – era water mains beneath Liverpool and Murray Streets burst, flooding nearby businesses, damaging roads and forcing emergency works in the heart of the CBD.
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Record-breaking Taste of Summer proves culture is a powerful engine for Hobart
10th January 2026 - The recent Taste of Summer on Hobart’s waterfront shows that festivals like this are more than entertainment, they are economic powerhouses. Nearly 100,000 people attended, 10,000 more than last year, and about a third came from interstate or overseas.
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Illegal to ride e-scooters in bike lanes
27th December 2025 - The City of Hobart has admitted it gave incorrect advice for years by telling e-scooter riders they could legally use bike lanes, despite Tasmanian law banning the practice.
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Congestion highlights impacts of Collins Street changes
22nd December 2025 - I campaigned against the changes to Collins and Victoria streets, warning they would restrict access to the CBD, and the current Christmas congestion shows those concerns were well founded.
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Should car dealerships be banned in Hobart
17th December 2025 - A proposal before Hobart City Council to ban automotive retail from the CBD risks doing real and lasting damage to jobs, investment and confidence in the city.
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