Veteran Knox councillor Peter Lockwood has not gone quietly.
Lockwood, who quit the council yesterday – forcing a by-election – told the Eastern Melburnian on Friday morning he walked away due to mental health concerns and to get out of what he claimed was a “nest of vipers”.
Tense term: First elected as a councillor in 1993, Lockwood was suspended twice this year over allegations of misconduct in 2025.
The most recent suspension, from June to July, followed arbitration proceedings into allegations he called two fellow councillors “f***wits” and told them to “f*** off” during last year's mayoral election debate. Lockwood denied the allegations, but was ordered to apologise in writing and verbally.
Moving forward: Lockwood, who has ADHD and complex PTSD, said he was “no longer young” and was looking forward to spending more time with his wife and grandchildren.
🗣️ “Any longer and my mental health would have crashed,” he said. He claimed he had faced “hostility” from within the chamber.
A statement from Knox Council steered clear of controversy. It quoted Mayor Paige Kennett, who acknowledged Lockwood’s time as a councillor and, in 2014 and 2015, as mayor.
🗣️ “Serving as a Councillor is a significant commitment, and we acknowledge the contribution he has made during his time on Council. We wish Peter all the very best for the future.”
Lockwood said he was proud of playing a part in the establishment of an Emergency Relief Fund and Winter Shelter Program for locals experiencing homelessness.
How’d we get here? First elected as the Dinsdale Ward councillor in 1993, Lockwood served for one year before the Kennett government restructured local councils.
He won the vote for Dinsdale Ward in 2000, but quit after being elected as the Labor MP for Bayswater. He served as a backbencher in the Bracks government before losing his seat in 2006.
Lockwood returned to the council in 2012, serving as the Baird Ward councillor until 2020, before being re-elected in 2024. He was mayor for one year (2014/15).
What’s next? The Victorian Electoral Commission will hold a by-election to elect a new councillor for Baird Ward. Dates, candidate nominations and voting arrangements are yet to be announced by council.