Mayor Matthew Garwood breaks silence on death threat fallout from musician photo
Mayor Matthew Garwood has admitted he ‘could have done it better’ after his photo with controversial US musician Ronnie Radke sparked global headlines and death threats.Alison Foletta. 3 min read. January 2, 2026 - 5:00AM7 Comments Listen to this article 3 min
City of Launceston mayor Matthew Garwood. Picture: Alison Folet
Launceston mayor Matthew Garwood said he never knew one photo would blow up to such “magnitude”, saying he should have been more “cautious”.Garwood said he consciously reflects on some difficult times, most notably making global headlines in March and April due to backlash following a photo Garwood posted with himself and US musician Ronnie Radke.
Speaking on the event for the first time to the media, Garwood said he would have done things differently looking back.
“I take responsibility for opening the door to this,” he said.
“I could have done it better.”
Launceston mayor Matthew Garwood with Ronnie Radke. Picture: Facebook
Following his post with Radke where he spoke about using his “mayor card”, media spoke to other councillors regarding the post, regarding Radke’s criminal past, which includes violent crimes, allegations the singer denies.Radke got wind of the media story and posted rants on his social media, which called to “bully” the councillors.
This ended in death threats against the councillors who feared for their safety.
“Never in my mind did I imagine that it would blow up to the magnitude that it did,” Garwood said.
He said it was “overwhelming”.
The mayor, 36, said he started listening to the band back when the singer focused on drug recovery after incarceration.
Garwood said he didn’t know about the allegations against Radke until after the post.
“I didn’t know all the other things, if I had I would have positioned [the post] very differently,” he said.
Garwood said when he talks about the “mayor card”, to him it’s about making conversation, but was “weaponised” in the media.
“It was never intended that way,” he said.
“It’s like when someone asks what your dad does for work.”
City of Launceston mayor Matthew Garwood reflects on a challenging 2025. Picture: Alison Foletta
A no-confidence motion was made against Garwood on March 27 over bringing “council into disrepute”.
“I didn’t know about it until 30 seconds before it happened,” he said. “It felt very aggressive in the chamber, how it was delivered.”
Garwood said he was given certain advice and guidance following the fall out.
“I personally didn’t feel comfortable doing some of those things,” he said.
“I relayed them back to the organisation. I said if this is an organisational position and I’m being asked personally to reflect on certain things, I pushed it back … and I coped ridicule for doing that and I really accept that as well.”
Notably, the council did put out an apology condemning the harassment from Radke signed by chief officer Sam Johnson, not Garwood.
The council also notified police over the posts. Garwood said he never considered resigning, and felt the community “rally” behind him.
There was a large petition calling to reverse the no-confidence motion, also a smaller one calling for him to resign, also the Chamber of Commerce Launceston called for Garwood to step down.
Overall, Garwood said despite it being a “tough” time, it was a learning experience as a leader.
“While there were personal comments made by others, that was still a choice as well,” he said.
“I’ve had to learn and really delineate between the ability to be a leader and to reflect on your team, their comments and support what’s required and those who are coming out and just making their own comments.”
Social media may have put Garwood into hot water, but he says he’ll continue to post about his life, whether it’s council, music, or family.
“We have never had so much, in my opinion, conversation between community and council,” he said.
“I really do feel that that’s being pushed through the generational changes of and influence of social media.”
Garwood said the challenge will be “the separation between an elected official and a community citizen.”
“I know I blur the lines there,” he said.
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Launceston mayor Matthew Garwood reveals ‘incredibly challenging year’ of public scandals
Launceston’s accidental mayor has picked up major wins, but confesses the past year has been so difficult he ‘wouldn’t wish this sort of term on anyone’.
Alison Foletta4 min read
January 2, 2026 - 5:00AM 2 Comments
City of Launceston mayor Matthew Garwood at York Park Stadium after Foo Fighters concert announced. Picture: Alison Foletta
Launceston’s accidental mayor has picked up major wins, but confesses the past year has been so difficult he ‘wouldn’t wish this sort of term on anyone’.
Alison Foletta4 min read
January 2, 2026 - 5:00AM 2 Comments
City of Launceston mayor Matthew Garwood at York Park Stadium after Foo Fighters concert announced. Picture: Alison Foletta
City of Launceston mayor Matthew Garwood at York Park Stadium after Foo Fighters concert announced. Picture: Alison Foletta
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After more than one public battle, the tattooed mayor of Launceston has revealed it was “never his time to be mayor” as he sat down to reflect on a “challenging year”.
Mayor Matthew Garwood celebrated the council’s wins and achievements, like the $20m Albert Hall reopening, the $15m Birchalls development and locking in the Australian-exclusive Foo Fighters concert.
Looking back on the year, and despite the many wins, Mr Garwood told the Mercury he sometimes felt a tinge of “impostor syndrome”.
“I also will say personally, that this was ... and I feel this is a vulnerable moment to say ... that this was never my turn to be mayor,” he said.
“I came in as deputy mayor and I was really excited about that to learn and to further develop.”
Mr Garwood stood for the role as mayor in 2023 because he said he felt he needed to as deputy amid the role becoming vacant due to an ongoing controversy.
Garwood pushed for former mayor’s resignation
The year began in scandal when allegations of inappropriate conduct were made against former mayor Danny Gibson — allegations the still-sitting councillor denies.
Mr Garwood called for Mr Gibson’s complete resignation from the council in January.
“The challenges this year have been incredibly challenging, they’ve been incredibly public as well,” Mr Garwood said.
“The mayor has to voice and speak the decisions or the thoughts of the council and the councillors … sometimes you’re left out there on your own.”
Tasmania ...Don't miss out on the headlines from Tasmania. Followed categories will be added to My News.
After more than one public battle, the tattooed mayor of Launceston has revealed it was “never his time to be mayor” as he sat down to reflect on a “challenging year”.
Mayor Matthew Garwood celebrated the council’s wins and achievements, like the $20m Albert Hall reopening, the $15m Birchalls development and locking in the Australian-exclusive Foo Fighters concert.
Looking back on the year, and despite the many wins, Mr Garwood told the Mercury he sometimes felt a tinge of “impostor syndrome”.
“I also will say personally, that this was ... and I feel this is a vulnerable moment to say ... that this was never my turn to be mayor,” he said.
“I came in as deputy mayor and I was really excited about that to learn and to further develop.”
Mr Garwood stood for the role as mayor in 2023 because he said he felt he needed to as deputy amid the role becoming vacant due to an ongoing controversy.
Garwood pushed for former mayor’s resignation
The year began in scandal when allegations of inappropriate conduct were made against former mayor Danny Gibson — allegations the still-sitting councillor denies.
Mr Garwood called for Mr Gibson’s complete resignation from the council in January.
“The challenges this year have been incredibly challenging, they’ve been incredibly public as well,” Mr Garwood said.
“The mayor has to voice and speak the decisions or the thoughts of the council and the councillors … sometimes you’re left out there on your own.”
Councillor Danny Gibson didn’t resign but says he will not re-run in 2026. Picture: Facebook
Other councillors also called on Mr Gibson to resign.
Mr Garwood said it had been an “incredibly distracting year”.
“The hours that have been spent on individual or councillor based issues has been really, really difficult,” he said.
“I would never wish this sort of term on anyone whether they’re experienced or not because of those challenges.”
Mr Garwood said while he had taken a “bit of a kick”, and the council faced “external turmoil”, they managed to push through.
Facing the good and bad of council
The spotlight is often on Mr Garwood, with the role of mayor making him spokesman for council’s work and councillor decisions.
He acknowledges he gets a lot of the praise for the good work.
“I know some people think I come out and take the credit, but then on the other side some people come out and bash me for the decisions that are made by a council,” Mr Garwood said.
“I love the saying that success has many fathers, but failure is an orphan.”
Mr Garwood said the role “isn’t like a Hollywood mayor”.
“We’re not Gotham where I can call Batman,” he said.
“You can’t come out and make decisions on the fly just on your own.”
There have been a lot of changes at the Launceston council, with new chief executive officer Sam Johnson starting in 2024, bringing an almost entirely new executive leadership group.
At the end of 2025, Johnson announced a restructure that included loss of jobs.
Mr Garwood said what can be hard about these decisions was they were operational.
“As the council we employ one person which is the CEO, who we brought in to make change,” he said.
The mayor said the CEO was confident in these changes “because of the strategic plan and because of the backing of the councillors”.
Council is more than the three Rs
Among the controversies, the council celebrated a range of achievements from the $20 million Albert Hall redevelopment and beloved Bike Safety Centre reopening, the launch of the 10-year strategy, more development applications passing and a $30 million investment growth, along with smaller wins.
Mr Garwood said he was most proud of the changes the role of council plays in the community.
“I learned very quickly that local government is being thrust into more social leadership than just the civil leadership like around rates, roads, and rubbish,” he said.
“The biggest role that we’ve played is a real soundboard and a real listening space in terms of where there might be some other shortcomings previously that we’re starting to pick up.”
The strategic plan has big goals looking at supporting housing and development for Launceston, Mr Garwood said it reflected the change in the role of local government.
“If someone has an issue with their bin or they have a cost of living crisis, we’re sort of finding ourselves in both of those spaces at the moment, which is really difficult,” he said.
“That’s why our strategic plan really does outline how we’re going to continue to work in both spaces, civic and social”.
Elections on the horizon
The local government elections are due October 2026, with Mr Garwood keeping his cards close to his chest, not fully committing to re-running just yet.
“I think that I will, but nine months in these sorts of roles is a very long time,” he said.
“It’s not that I don’t have the view to go and do anything else. It would only be a realisation coming into the time when you have to run to say I’ve achieved what I need to achieve or I’ve achieved what I can achieve.”
Looking ahead to 2026, Mr Garwood said he was excited about the priorities for council, including direction for engagement and focusing on parks and play spaces.
“We’re starting the redevelopment of the Princess Theatre, we’ve done all of that work in the city park which is just fantastic,” he said.
“I’m really excited to continue that momentum and also continue that culture of change and partnerships between private and public like with the convention centre.”
He acknowledges he gets a lot of the praise for the good work.
“I know some people think I come out and take the credit, but then on the other side some people come out and bash me for the decisions that are made by a council,” Mr Garwood said.
“I love the saying that success has many fathers, but failure is an orphan.”
Mr Garwood said the role “isn’t like a Hollywood mayor”.
“We’re not Gotham where I can call Batman,” he said.
“You can’t come out and make decisions on the fly just on your own.”
City of Launceston mayor Matthew Garwood reflects on a challenging 2025. Picture: Alison Foletta
There have been a lot of changes at the Launceston council, with new chief executive officer Sam Johnson starting in 2024, bringing an almost entirely new executive leadership group.
At the end of 2025, Johnson announced a restructure that included loss of jobs.
Mr Garwood said what can be hard about these decisions was they were operational.
“As the council we employ one person which is the CEO, who we brought in to make change,” he said.
The mayor said the CEO was confident in these changes “because of the strategic plan and because of the backing of the councillors”.
Council is more than the three Rs
Among the controversies, the council celebrated a range of achievements from the $20 million Albert Hall redevelopment and beloved Bike Safety Centre reopening, the launch of the 10-year strategy, more development applications passing and a $30 million investment growth, along with smaller wins.
Mr Garwood said he was most proud of the changes the role of council plays in the community.
“I learned very quickly that local government is being thrust into more social leadership than just the civil leadership like around rates, roads, and rubbish,” he said.
“The biggest role that we’ve played is a real soundboard and a real listening space in terms of where there might be some other shortcomings previously that we’re starting to pick up.”
The strategic plan has big goals looking at supporting housing and development for Launceston, Mr Garwood said it reflected the change in the role of local government.
“If someone has an issue with their bin or they have a cost of living crisis, we’re sort of finding ourselves in both of those spaces at the moment, which is really difficult,” he said.
“That’s why our strategic plan really does outline how we’re going to continue to work in both spaces, civic and social”.
Launceston council mayor Matthew Garwood shows off new palm tattoo after community suggestions. Picture: supplied
Elections on the horizon
The local government elections are due October 2026, with Mr Garwood keeping his cards close to his chest, not fully committing to re-running just yet.
“I think that I will, but nine months in these sorts of roles is a very long time,” he said.
“It’s not that I don’t have the view to go and do anything else. It would only be a realisation coming into the time when you have to run to say I’ve achieved what I need to achieve or I’ve achieved what I can achieve.”
Looking ahead to 2026, Mr Garwood said he was excited about the priorities for council, including direction for engagement and focusing on parks and play spaces.
“We’re starting the redevelopment of the Princess Theatre, we’ve done all of that work in the city park which is just fantastic,” he said.
“I’m really excited to continue that momentum and also continue that culture of change and partnerships between private and public like with the convention centre.”
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