Sarina Laidler elected mayor of King Island

Sarina Laidler has been elected mayor of King Island, succeeding Marcus Blackie following the 2026 local government elections.

Mrs Laidler defeated fellow councillor Ira Cooke in the mayoral contest, with both candidates having already secured places on the incoming council after being elected unopposed as councillors.

Mr Blackie did not seek re-election after serving one four-year term as mayor.

Mrs Laidler brings eight years of council experience to the position, along with a background in farming, health, business and community development.

During her election campaign, she identified transport and connectivity, council’s financial sustainability and infrastructure, and economic development and the cost of living as her three main priorities.

She has been a strong advocate for improved air and sea services, highlighting the impact of transport costs and reliability on agriculture, tourism, businesses and access to essential services.

As chair of the council’s Transport and Freight Group, Mrs Laidler has worked to bring stakeholders together and develop a coordinated approach to the island’s transport challenges.

She has called for continued advocacy to the state and federal governments, transport operators and industry to improve air capacity, affordability and reliability, as well as sea freight arrangements and freight equalisation.

Mrs Laidler has also identified the financial burden of the council-owned King Island Airport as a major issue, advocating for a more sustainable funding model.

On council finances, she has emphasised the importance of maintaining essential infrastructure while managing the municipality’s limited resources responsibly and planning for the longer term.

Economic development, housing, employment, training and support for local businesses have also featured in her priorities, alongside protecting King Island’s identity, natural resources and way of life.

Mrs Laidler has argued that economic growth and environmental protection should not be treated as competing objectives, with major development proposals requiring community involvement and careful consideration of their long-term effects.

She has also called for improved council communication, transparency and accountability, saying elected representatives must be accessible and willing to listen to residents.

“I think I bring experience but mainly a willingness to listen to our community,” she said during her election interview.

Mrs Laidler has lived on King Island for more than 30 years. Her working life has included the family farm, business facilitation and roles at the King Island Hospital and Health Centre in health promotion, community development and community recovery.

She has also been involved in numerous community organisations, including Lions, Phoenix Community House, the Hospital Auxiliary, Red Cross, the Volunteer Ambulance Service, Naracoopa Progress Association, King Island Regional Development Organisation and the Chamber of Commerce.

At the outgoing council’s final meeting on October 20, Mrs Laidler reflected on the importance of cooperation between councillors and staff and acknowledged the personal challenges she had experienced during the previous term.

She also highlighted her advocacy for improved ambulance services, including a proposed dedicated ambulance facility and an ambulance officer to support the island’s volunteers.

Mrs Laidler said reliable sea and air connections remained fundamental to King Island’s future prosperity and called for continued cooperation and strong advocacy on behalf of the community.

She takes office as the new council faces ongoing challenges involving transport and freight, infrastructure investment, financial sustainability and economic development.

The new mayor will lead a seven-member council, including five councillors elected unopposed and two selected by voters in the October election.