Kerridge resigns as Newcastle Lord Mayor, citing ongoing cancer treatment side effects

newy.com.au – Kerridge, who was elected as an independent in 2024, announced the decision to retire on Monday, saying his return to work had made it clear he could not meet the demands of the job while continuing treatment.

“With great regret, today I inform the people of Newcastle that I am no longer able to serve as Lord Mayor,” he said, adding that while his treatment was “progressing well”, “the side-effects continue to be significant”.

Kerridge said he had hoped to return with “renewed energy” and work “collaboratively with all Councillors for the people of Newcastle”, but “it has become clear that I no longer have the energy for all that is required to deal with the challenges of the role at this time”.

He said he had also been influenced by “Peter Sleap’s comments at the recent ‘Citizen of The Year’ award”, the eulogies at Paul Scott’s funeral “last Thursday”, and “reflecting on the needs of my own family”.

In the statement, Kerridge revisited the platform he took to the 2024 election, saying he ran “to challenge the unhealthy dominance of party politics in local government” and to refocus council attention from “big projects” to “core services and community projects across the entire city”.

While he said those policies were supported by voters and community members, he wrote that he had not been able to progress the agenda, claiming “Labor councillors, supported by the Greens, hold an insurmountable majority”.

Kerridge said he hoped his election would “pave the way for other concerned citizens to seek public office in a non-partisan way”, and thanked council staff and local health workers, writing: “Chemotherapy is a nasty gift but in Australia we are fortunate to be able to receive it.”

Kerridge took a leave of absence from late October 2025 for treatment, with City of Newcastle previously confirming Deputy Lord Mayor Charlotte McCabe would assume the responsibilities of Lord Mayor during that period.