{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2025}} {{Use Australian English|date=August 2015}} {{Infobox officeholder | honorific_prefix = | name = Michael Harbison | image = Michael Harbison DF-SD-07-24063.jpg | caption = Harbison in 2005 | order = 78th Lord Mayor of Adelaide | term_start = May 12, 2003 | term_end = November 13, 2010 | deputy = | predecessor = Alfred Huang | successor = Stephen Yarwood | birth_date = June 16, 1953 | birth_place = | death_date = | death_place = }}
'''Michael John Henry Harbison''' was the Lord Mayor of Adelaide, South Australia from 2003 to 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cityofadelaide.com.au/about-council/your-council/past-lord-mayors-and-mayors/ |publisher=Adelaide City Council|title=Past Lord Mayors and Mayors}}</ref> Harbison is the longest serving Lord Mayor and the first to serve two consecutive full terms in 15 years.
''The Advertiser'' would later go on to described him as an "exceptionally successful businessman who became frustrated by how slowly the wheels of a council bureaucracy turn".<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 16, 2010 |title=Will a change of mayor really change anything about the Adelaide City Council? |url=https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/will-a-change-of-mayor-really-change-anything-about-the-adelaide-city-council/news-story/1cd6a320f68a2c4ac496a37033ea2aaf |url-status=live}}</ref>
== Early life and education == Before becoming Lord Mayor, he was a successful businessman.<ref name=protocol/> Along with Tim Hartley, Harbison owned and ran the Harvest Corporation and the Malcolm Reid furniture chain, one of the city's oldest companies at the time.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Power |first=Julie |date=1987-11-13 |title=ADELAIDE WHEELS AND DEALS |url=https://www.afr.com/politics/adelaide-wheels-and-deals-19871113-jl1vq |access-date=2026-02-06 |website=Australian Financial Review |language=en}}</ref> The two met working backstage at Circus Oz in the 1970s, where Harbison was the ringmaster.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2010-02-24 |title=Circus without animals enjoying boom times |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2010-02-24/circus-without-animals-enjoying-boom-times/342316 |access-date=2026-02-06 |work=ABC News |language=en-AU}}</ref> The circus was one of the first in the country to be animal-free.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Edwards |first=Verity |date=September 17, 2016 |title=Rising above the rest: Harbisons' grand Adelaide home |url=https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/property/rising-above-the-rest-harbisons-grand-adelaide-home/news-story/8ab2230dd821ae4a829831052761faa7 |url-status=live}}</ref>
In the 1980s, after their marriage, Harbison and his wife Kathy Harbison co-purchased Woodroofe for $3 million, the soft drink factory in Norwood, along with the Hartley family.<ref>{{cite web | last=Coleman | first=Dennis | title=Mrs Kathy Harbison | website=SA History Hub | date=15 August 2021 |publisher= History Trust of South Australia| url=https://sahistoryhub.history.sa.gov.au/people/mrs-kathy-harbison | access-date=15 August 2021}}</ref>
== Local government == Harbison became a Councillor in 1998<ref name="protocol">[http://www.adelaidecitycouncil.com/council/council-members/lord-mayor-michael-harbison/lord-mayor-protocol.html Profile] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100103144030/http://adelaidecitycouncil.com/council/council-members/lord-mayor-michael-harbison/lord-mayor-protocol.html |date=3 January 2010 }}, Adelaide City Council</ref> and in 2002 ran as Liberal candidate for the state seat of Adelaide<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2002/s475291.htm |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |work=TV Program Transcript: The 7.30 Report |date=6 February 2002 |title=Old foes slug it out in key marginal SA seat |author=Anne Barker}}</ref> only to be defeated by former Lord Mayor Jane Lomax-Smith.<ref>{{cite web |author=Antony Green |date=20 April 2006 |title=Adelaide (Key Seat) |url=https://www.abc.net.au/elections/sa/2006/guide/adel.htm |access-date=17 December 2015 |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation}}</ref>
Harbison was elected Lord Mayor in 2003,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Crikey |date=2001-06-16 |title=Melbourne Clown Hall: A rush to judgment? |url=https://www.crikey.com.au/2001/06/17/melbourne-clown-hall-a-rush-to-judgment/ |access-date=2026-02-03 |website=Crikey |language=en-US}}</ref> defeating former Lord Mayor Alfred Huang and local bookseller Greg Mackie. One of his most publicised election pledges was to close Rundle Street to traffic on Friday nights, saying the Council should have the courage to "say no to cars".<ref>{{Cite news |date=2003-04-10 |title=Adelaide politician says no to Friday night traffic |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2003-04-10/adelaide-politician-says-no-to-friday-night-traffic/1833658 |access-date=2026-02-06 |work=ABC News |language=en-AU}}</ref>
His eight years in office focused on heritage preservation,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wayback Machine |url=https://www.pc.gov.au/inquiries/completed/heritage/submissions/adelaide_city_council/sub115.pdf |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20240903135959/https://www.pc.gov.au/inquiries/completed/heritage/submissions/adelaide_city_council/sub115.pdf |archive-date=2024-09-03 |access-date=2026-02-03 |website=www.pc.gov.au}}</ref> urban revitalisation, prudent financial policies and investing in asset and infrastructure repairs across the city.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2009-06-15 |title=Green focus for Adelaide City Council |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2009-06-16/green-focus-for-adelaide-city-council/1714984 |access-date=2026-02-03 |work=ABC News |language=en-AU}}</ref>
Harbison oversaw a budget that included installing solar panels on the Adelaide Central Market and installing butt-out bins in city streets. Harbison also backed the State Government's tramline extensions plans, crediting it for "successfully provided an environmentally sustainable transport option for commuters and has also sparked major development interest".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bustler |title=Tramline Extension Takes out Adelaide Prize |url=https://bustler.net/news/515/tramline-extension-takes-out-adelaide-prize |access-date=2026-02-03 |website=Bustler |language=en}}</ref>
During his first term, he oversaw the rolling out of 50 WIFI hot spots on lamp posts, traffic lights, and under trees. The initiative made Adelaide the first city centre in Australia to be permanently online.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2003-10-14 |title=Ringmaster's daring high-wireless act |url=https://www.smh.com.au/technology/ringmasters-daring-high-wireless-act-20031014-gdhkx4.html |access-date=2026-02-06 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |language=en}}</ref> He also encouraged Council to install dark fibre wherever new cabling was done to help build a sufficient wireless network.
One of the initiatives Harbison championed in his second term was a free car use scheme, whereby people could loan a vehicle near their home free-of-charge for up to an hour.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2008-08-19 |title=Lord Mayor Michael Harbison says Adelaide now has a free car use scheme. |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2008-08-19/lord-mayor-michael-harbison-says-adelaide-now-has/481838 |access-date=2026-02-06 |website=www.abc.net.au |language=en-AU}}</ref> The City Council allocated three carparking spaces for the first of the share vehicles. "It takes pressure off the city streets with less cars, but also it relieves the burden of car ownership for individual residents," he told ABC Radio Adelaide.
The City of Adelaide Act limits the Lord Mayor of Adelaide to serving two consecutive terms.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Castello |first=Renato |date=May 31, 2018 |title=Council election reforms should include compulsory voting, a cap on term lengths and a shorter election cycle say Adelaide mayors |url=https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/messenger/council-election-reforms-should-include-compulsory-voting-a-cap-on-term-lengths-and-a-shorter-election-cycle-say-adelaide-mayors/news-story/8313b55644f5eb19edbceab6ed3a1bb4 |url-status=live}}</ref> Harbison was succeeded at the 2010 South Australian local elections by Stephen Yarwood.
== Controversies == Harbison became embroiled in controversy during his reign after ''The Advertiser'' revealed he had a financial relationship with FiveAA broadcaster Leon Byner.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Castello |first=Renato |date=October 2, 2019 |title=The biggest scandals of South Australia's councils |url=https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/messenger/the-biggest-scandals-of-south-australias-councils/news-story/213ac8b400f5c73b3ab4fb623658526a |url-status=live}}</ref> Byner was suspended for eight weeks after Harbison admitted paying him $6000 for media coaching.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2004-01-25 |title=ABA to proceed with probe into cash-for-comment claim |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2004-01-26/aba-to-proceed-with-probe-into-cash-for-comment/124854 |access-date=2026-02-03 |work=ABC News |language=en-AU}}</ref> While Harbison was cleared of any wrongdoing, Byner gave an on-air apology once his suspension had ended.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Crikey |date=2004-03-29 |title=Shamed shock jock confesses all |url=https://www.crikey.com.au/2004/03/30/shamed-shock-jock-confesses-all/ |access-date=2026-02-03 |website=Crikey |language=en-US}}</ref>
Shortly before the end of his term, Harbison drew ire for inviting 370 guests to a farewell party on November 3, 2010 which cost ratepayers $40,000.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Pryor |first=Lachlan |date=October 26, 2010 |title=Residents dig $40,000 deep to farewell Lord Mayor Harbison |url=https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/residents-dig-40000-deep-to-farewell-lord-mayor-harbison/news-story/cf81d2adaaebdea984ce3e75065b795c |url-status=live}}</ref> The costs were covered under the "civic events" budget line and CEO Peter Smith said it did not breach the Local Government Election Act. Councillor Anne Moran told ''The Advertiser'': ""It could be seen by people as a waste of ratepayers' money, and I agree".<ref name=":0" />
== Life after politics == Three months after leaving Town Hall, Harbison made headlines again for a stoush with the City Council over parking outside his North Adelaide property.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Peucker |first=Christie |date=January 9, 2011 |title=Harbo in parking space fight |url=https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/ipad/harbo-in-parking-space-fight/news-story/adb73dc2a5d25625723228ef527f9c43 |url-status=live}}</ref> He'd lobbied the Council to remove parking outside because it was difficult to enter and exit the driveway. The newspaper said he had purchased the home for $785,500 that October and it was currently being renovated.
In 2024, Harbison was embroiled in a four-month legal stoush over his father's $3 million estate.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Fewster |first=Sean |date=November 13, 2024 |title=Former Adelaide Lord Mayor Michael Harbison and brother William confidentially settle $3 million estate dispute with sister |url=https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/truecrimeaustralia/police-courts-sa/former-adelaide-lord-mayor-michael-harbison-and-brother-william-confidentially-settle-3-million-estate-dispute-with-sister/news-story/979aa255eea526f122af9d9011506f35 |url-status=live}}</ref> Harbison's sister, Catherine, sued he and his brother William and they countersued her in response. The lawsuit arose from the death of their father, Gawler GP Dr John Harbison. Carramar, a nine-room, 175sqm Victorian villa purchased by John and Pat Harbison in 1956 was central to the lawsuit. Catherine wanted her brothers removed as executors of the estate<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fewster |first=Sean |date=July 26, 2024 |title=Former Adelaide Lord Mayor Michael Harbison suing, and being sued, over $3 million estate of his father, Dr John Harbison |url=https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/truecrimeaustralia/police-courts-sa/former-adelaide-lord-mayor-michael-harbison-suing-and-being-sued-over-3-million-estate-of-his-father-dr-john-harbison/news-story/fc44a60c8daf5fc1953f2a9165a32b29 |url-status=live}}</ref> while they sought legal advice. A private mediation hearing resolved the dispute, but not before Harbison's brother, Adelaide veterinarian and equestrian identity William, clashed with reporters outside court.<ref name=":1" />
== References == {{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Harbison, Michael}} Category:1953 births Category:Living people Category:Mayors and lord mayors of Adelaide Category:Deputy mayors of places in South Australia Category:South Australian local councillors