The Newcastle Greens were founded in mid-1990 specifically to contest local government elections, and in 1991 achieved a landmark result: John Sutton was elected to Newcastle City Council, becoming one of the first Greens ever elected to local government in Australia. When the ward system was introduced in Newcastle in 1995, the Greens were able to win multiple positions: John Sutton was re-elected, joined by Margaret Henry and Liz Rene.
Over the years the number of Greens councillors has fluctuated. For example, in 1999, Margaret Henry was returned along with Ian McKenzie. In 2004, they won four seats: Ian McKenzie (Ward 1), Michael Osborne (Ward 2), Keith Parsons (Ward 3) and Cassandra Arnold (Ward 4). Then in 2008, despite a strong vote, only Michael Osborne managed to win among the Greens in Newcastle under the new configuration.
In more recent history, the Greens have continued to maintain representation, though generally in smaller numbers, and often playing a swing role in council decision-making. After the 2021 council elections, there were two Greens councillors elected: Dr John Mackenzie and Charlotte McCabe. By the 2024 elections, the number of Greens on Newcastle City Council was still significant: current councillors from the Greens are Charlotte McCabe (Ward 1), Joel Pringle (Ward 2), and Siobhan Isherwood (Ward 3). One more, Sinéad Francis-Coan (Ward 3), was elected in late 2024, though she sadly passed away in mid-2025.
Over the whole period, the Greens’ influence in Newcastle has been more than just the number of seats. They have helped shift policy discussions around environmental protection, climate action, heritage conservation, housing affordability, and more community-oriented planning. Their early wins (John Sutton, Margaret Henry etc.) set a precedent in NSW for what local government Greens representation could look like. In many instances, even when not holding a majority, their votes and presence have shaped coalition formations, raised visibility for sustainability issues, and pushed for greater transparency and community participation.
