{{Short description|Australian politician (born 1962)}} {{good article}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2025}} {{Use Australian English|date=January 2025}} {{Infobox officeholder | honorific_prefix = Cr | name = Stephen Jolly | image = File:Stephen Jolly (cropped).jpg | image_size = | caption = {{circa|2024}} | office = Mayor of Yarra | term_start = 19 November 2024 | term_end = | predecessor = Edward Crossland | office1 = Councillor of the City of Yarra <br/> for MacKillop Ward | term_start1 = 26 October 2024 | term_end1 = | predecessor1 = ''Ward re-established'' | office2 = Councillor of the City of Yarra <br/> for Langridge Ward | term_start2 = 26 November 2004 | term_end2 = 26 October 2024 | successor2 = Evangeline Aston | birth_date = 1962 | birth_place = London, England | party = Yarra For All (2024–present) <br/> Independent (2017–2018, 2019–present) | other_party = Labour (Ireland) (1982–1985) <br/> Socialist (1985–2016) <br/>The Socialists (2016–2017) <br/> Victorian Socialists (2018–2019) | alma_mater = University of Cape Town | occupation = Construction worker<br />CFMMEU delegate<br />Councillor (Yarra City Council) | profession = Politician | website = }} {{Australian socialism}} '''Stephen Jolly''' (born 1962) is an Australian politician and socialist activist.<ref>{{cite web |title=Councillor Stephen Jolly {{!}} Yarra City Council |url=https://www.yarracity.vic.gov.au/about-us/council-people/councillors/councillor-stephen-jolly |website=www.yarracity.vic.gov.au |accessdate=5 October 2018 |language=en |archive-date=7 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181207145712/https://www.yarracity.vic.gov.au/about-us/council-people/councillors/councillor-stephen-jolly |url-status=live }}</ref> He currently serves as the mayor of Yarra and has been a councillor of the City of Yarra since 2004, initially representing Langridge Ward before being elected to MacKillop Ward in 2024. Originally from London and raised in Ireland, he studied at the University of Cape Town before migrating to Australia in 1985.
Jolly was a member of the Militant faction in the Australian Labor Party (later the Socialist Party). He served as editor of ''The Militant'' newspaper and later as National Secretary. He addressed the student occupation at Tiananmen Square and was later involved in pro-democracy in China rallies. Jolly was involved in an occupation of Richmond High School in 1993, an action opposing the school's closure.
Jolly unsuccessfully ran for election to the Victorian Parliament several times while a member of the Socialist Party. He was president and lead candidate for the Victorian Socialists during the 2018 Victorian state election. He led the independent group '''"'''Yarra for All'''"''', in the City of Yarra at the 2024 Victorian Council elections, with the group picking up 4 out of 9 councillors.
== Early life and education == Jolly was born in London to an Irish single mother who had left Ireland due to concerns regarding the predominant Catholic Church's attitude towards single parents.<ref name="Forbes-1998">{{cite news |last1=Forbes |first1=Mark |date=25 July 1998 |title=Political activist or ratbag? |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/122968812/ |access-date=20 November 2024 |work=The Age |pages=14}}</ref> He was raised in Ireland by his grandparents in a public housing estate.<ref name="Forbes-1998" /> Jolly moved to study at the University of Cape Town in 1977. He moved to Sydney, Australia in 1985 with his then Australian wife.<ref name="Forbes-1998" /> Jolly moved to Melbourne after 1989.<ref name="Forbes-1998" />
== Activism == On Jolly's arrival to Australia he became involved in the Militant faction of the Australian Labor Party (later renamed to the Socialist Party), serving as Editor of its newspaper ''The Militant'' and as National Secretary until 2000.<ref name="Forbes-1998" /> While working in construction, he has served as a shop steward with the Construction, Forestry, Mining, Maritime and Energy Union (CFMMEU).<ref name="Mitchell">{{cite web |title=The Immodest Victorian Socialists |url=https://www.jacobinmag.com/2018/09/victoria-socialists-australia-manifesto-elections |website=Jacobin |accessdate=12 October 2018 |last1=Mitchell |first1=Ivan |last2=Lopez |first2=Daniel |date=8 September 2018 |archive-date=11 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180911004401/http://www.jacobinmag.com/2018/09/victoria-socialists-australia-manifesto-elections |url-status=live }}</ref>
In 1989, at the age of 27, Jolly was a first-hand witness of the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests and massacre while he was speaking to protestors and helped them organise.<ref name=":0">{{cite news |last1=Walker |first1=Frank |date=2 July 1989 |title=Sydney Man saw Beijing's Horror Night |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/121013804/ |access-date=10 January 2025 |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |pages=24 |archive-date=20 January 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250120191818/https://www.newspapers.com/image/121013804/ |url-status=live }}</ref> According to Australian newspapers, Jolly was the only Westerner to address "the half-a-million strong crowd of students occupying Tiananmen Square".<ref name="Forbes-1998" /><ref name=":0" /> He noted in a 1990 news article that the protestors "never believed the People's Army would turn against them" and has since been involved in pro-democracy in China rallies.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bishop |first1=Karren |date=4 June 1990 |title=Massacre Outrage Is Still Strong |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/120765158/ |access-date=10 January 2025 |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |pages=5}}</ref>
In 1993, Jolly and Militant were involved in a 360-day occupation of Richmond High School, which unsuccessfully sought to prevent the Victorian government from closing the school.<ref name="Forbes-1998" /> During the occupation he stood on the front lines as police advanced towards them with raised batons.<ref name="Forbes-1998" /> In 2000, he supported and was involved in the S11 anti-globalisation protests in Melbourne.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Mottram |first1=Murray |last2=Douez |first2=Sophie |date=16 September 2000 |title=Behind the battle of the barricades |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/123770502/ |access-date=10 January 2025 |work=The Age |pages=22}}</ref> In 2011 and 2012, he pledged to support the Occupy Melbourne movement against corporate influence in politics.<ref>{{cite news |title=Yarra Socialist Party councillors pledge support to Occupy Melbourne |url=https://www.greenleft.org.au/content/yarra-socialist-party-councillors-pledge-support-occupy-melbourne |website=Green Left Weekly |issue=900 |accessdate=6 December 2018 |language=en |date=6 September 2016 |archive-date=6 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181206102452/https://www.greenleft.org.au/content/yarra-socialist-party-councillors-pledge-support-occupy-melbourne |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Friday Breakfast |url=http://podcast.3cr.org.au/audio/3CRCast-2011-10-27-77371.mp3 |website=3CR Melbourne |date=21 October 2011 |access-date=6 December 2018 |archive-date=21 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140321130724/http://podcast.3cr.org.au/audio/3CRCast-2011-10-27-77371.mp3 |url-status=live }}</ref>
Jolly's socialist political stances have led to hostile reactions from far-right groups such as the United Patriots Front, which has promoted rallies and death threats against him.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Hall |first1=Bianca |title=Police investigate kill threats against Councillor Stephen Jolly |url=https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/police-investigate-kill-threats-against-councillor-stephen-jolly-20150802-giplc3.html |work=The Age |accessdate=5 October 2018 |date=2 August 2015 |archive-date=9 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181209124208/https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/police-investigate-kill-threats-against-councillor-stephen-jolly-20150802-giplc3.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Tensions flare at Reclaim Australia splinter group protest |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-05-31/reclaim-australia-group-rally-broken-up-by-police/6510194 |work=ABC News |accessdate=12 October 2018 |language=en-AU |date=31 May 2015 |archive-date=5 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230305003452/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-05-31/reclaim-australia-group-rally-broken-up-by-police/6510194 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2015, a man was charged over death and rape threats towards Jolly.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Booker |first1=Chloe |title='Nazi' charged over death, rape threats to Socialist Party Councillor Stephen Jolly |url=https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/nazi-charged-over-death-rape-threats-to-socialist-party-councillor-stephen-jolly-20150806-gitipy.html |work=The Age |accessdate=5 October 2018 |date=6 August 2015 |archive-date=2 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190202153947/https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/nazi-charged-over-death-rape-threats-to-socialist-party-councillor-stephen-jolly-20150806-gitipy.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
In 2016, Jolly led a mass resignation from the Socialist Party (now Socialist Action). He alleged there had been a cover-up of allegations of sexual abuse within the party.<ref name="Preiss-2016">{{Cite news |url=https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/stephen-jolly-leads-mass-resignation-from-socialist-party-over-allegations-of-abuse-coverup-20160223-gn1d75.html|title=Stephen Jolly leads mass resignation from Socialist Party over allegations of abuse cover-up|last=Preiss|first=Benjamin|date=23 February 2016|work=The Age |language=en|access-date=25 November 2018|archive-date=6 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181006000224/https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/stephen-jolly-leads-mass-resignation-from-socialist-party-over-allegations-of-abuse-coverup-20160223-gn1d75.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The party denied any cover-up.<ref>[https://thesocialist.org.au/statement-from-socialist-party-national-committee/ Statement from Socialist Party National Committee] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190829055516/https://thesocialist.org.au/statement-from-socialist-party-national-committee/ |date=29 August 2019 }} ''Socialist Party website'' 24 February 2016</ref><ref>[https://thesocialist.org.au/a-reply-to-former-comrades-in-new-zealand/ A reply to former comrades in New Zealand] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190829055513/https://thesocialist.org.au/a-reply-to-former-comrades-in-new-zealand/ |date=29 August 2019 }} ''Socialist Party website'' 31 March 2016</ref> Jolly and others who had left then established a new group, The Socialists.<ref name="Preiss-2016" /> In 2018 he joined the Victorian Socialists, an electoral alliance combining the Socialist Alliance, Socialist Alternative, as well as non-party affiliated socialists. Jolly resigned from the Victorian Socialists in September 2019 after the party executive voted to suspend his membership.<ref name="Towell-2019">{{Cite news |last1=Towell |first1=Noel |last2=Millar |first2=Benjamin |date=23 September 2019 |title=Stephen Jolly splits from Victorian Socialists amid serious allegations |url=https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/stephen-jolly-splits-from-victorian-socialists-amid-serious-allegations-20190923-p52u6b.html |url-status=live |access-date=3 September 2024 |work=The Age |archive-date=17 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240817041048/https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/stephen-jolly-splits-from-victorian-socialists-amid-serious-allegations-20190923-p52u6b.html }}</ref>
==Political career==
=== Socialist Party (1999–2016) === {{further|Electoral results for the district of Richmond (Victoria)}} Jolly ran for election to the Victorian electoral district of Richmond as a member of the Socialist Party several times. In these elections he stood as an independent, as the party was not registered with the Victorian Electoral Commission. In the 1999 Victorian state election he gained 12.0% of the vote.<ref>{{cite web |title=Richmond District profile – Victorian Electoral Commission |url=https://www.vec.vic.gov.au/ElectoralBoundaries/RichmondDistrictProfile.html |website=Victorian Electoral Commission |accessdate=9 December 2018 |archive-date=9 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181209124710/https://www.vec.vic.gov.au/ElectoralBoundaries/RichmondDistrictProfile.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Jolly re-contested the seat in the 2002, 2006, 2010, and 2014 state elections, with lesser success. During these elections the party campaigned for policies such as free public transport, promoting the local arts scene, and anti-capitalism.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Fredman |first1=Nick |title=Stephen Jolly: A fighter stands for parliament |url=https://www.greenleft.org.au/content/stephen-jolly-fighter-stands-parliament |website=Green Left Weekly |accessdate=9 November 2018 |language=en |date=14 November 2014 |archive-date=9 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181209124127/https://www.greenleft.org.au/content/stephen-jolly-fighter-stands-parliament |url-status=live }}</ref> Their 2010 campaign was supported by the CFMMEU, the Electrical Trades Union (ETU), and the United Firefighters Union (UFU), who raised $25,000 for the campaign.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Crook |first1=Andrew |title=Socialist sets up Vic election battle for Richmond |url=https://www.crikey.com.au/2010/10/04/socialist-sets-up-vic-election-battle-for-richmond/ |website=Crikey |accessdate=9 November 2018 |date=4 October 2010 |archive-date=9 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181209124545/https://www.crikey.com.au/2010/10/04/socialist-sets-up-vic-election-battle-for-richmond/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
=== Victorian Socialists (2018-2019) === {{See also|Victorian Socialists}} In February 2018, Jolly announced that he will be contesting a seat in the Legislative Council in the 2018 Victorian state elections as the leading candidate of the Victorian Socialists ticket.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Armstrong |first1=Liam |title=Could Steve Jolly Be Victoria's Jeremy Corbyn? |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/could-steve-jolly-be-australias-first-socialist-politician-in-70-years/ |website=Vice |access-date=5 October 2018 |language=en-au |date=8 February 2018 |archive-date=3 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240903040052/https://live.primis.tech/live/liveVideo.php?vpaidManager=sekindo&s=58057&ri=6C69766553746174737C736B317B54307D7B64323032342D30392D30335F30377D7B7331373236333433387D7B4333307D7B53643364334C6E5A7059325575593239747D7B626368726F6D657D7B716465736B746F707D7B6F77696E646F77737D7B583630307D7B593333387D7B66317D7B7251554A5549433867633278705A47567958325A70636D566D623368666447567A644638324E544534494338674D6941764947466A64476C325A513D3D7D7B4C32303736397DFEFE&userIpAddr=207.241.225.229&userUA=Mozilla%2F5.0+%28Windows+NT+10.0%3B+Win64%3B+x64%29+AppleWebKit%2F537.36+%28KHTML%2C+like+Gecko%29+Chrome%2F115.0.0.0+Safari%2F537.36&debugInformation=ABT+%2F+slider_firefox_test_6518+%2F+2+%2F+active&isWePassGdpr=1&noViewableMidrollPolicy=vary&isDoublePreroll=1&autoSkipVideoSec=22&c2pWaitTime=10&sdkv=&isSinglePageFloatSupport=0&availCampaigns=&isAmpIframe=0&tagKeywords=&cbuster=1725336051&csuuid=66d689f22e318&debugInfo=17263438_ABT+%2F+slider_firefox_test_6518+%2F+2+%2F+active&debugPlayerSession=&pubUrlDEMO=&isAsyncDEMO=0&customPlaylistIdDEMO=&sta=17263438&showLogo=0&clkUrl=&plMult=-1&schedule=eyJwcmVfcm9sbCI6MSwibWlkX3JvbGwiOltdLCJnYXAiOiJhdXRvIn0%3D&content=plembed3edcgjvwtusq&secondaryContent=&x=600&y=338&pubUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.vice.com%2Fen%2Farticle%2Fcould-steve-jolly-be-australias-first-socialist-politician-in-70-years%2F&contentNum=1&flow_closeBtn=1&flowCloseTimeout=0&flow_closeButtonPosition=right&flow_direction=br&flow_horizontalOffset=10&flow_bottomOffset=10&impGap=1&flow_width=350&flow_height=197&videoType=flow&isOriginImg=0&gdpr=0&gdprConsent=&contentFeedId=&geoLati=37.751&geoLong=-97.822&vpTemplate=20769&flowMode=seenboth&isRealPreroll=0&playerApiId=&isApp=0&ccpa=0&ccpaConsent=1---&subId=&appName=&appBundleId=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.vice.com%2Fen%2Farticle%2Fcould-steve-jolly-be-australias-first-socialist-politician-in-70-years%2F&appStoreUrl=&diaid=&appPrivacyPolicy=&appIsPaid=&appDeveloper=&appId=&appVersion=&sdkv=&enableResizeObserverInapp=0&isAppJs=0 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Mitchell" /> Jolly stated that the campaign would fight for programs promoted by international left-wing politicians such as Jeremy Corbyn, Bernie Sanders, and Jean-Luc Mélenchon.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Pearce |first1=Gary |title=The Victorian Socialists' fight for an alternative |url=https://overland.org.au/2018/10/the-victorian-socialists-fight-for-an-alternative/ |website=Overland |accessdate=20 October 2018 |date=19 October 2018 |archive-date=25 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200925225139/https://overland.org.au/2018/10/the-victorian-socialists-fight-for-an-alternative/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
The decision to run in the Northern Metropolitan Region was considered controversial by Reason Party's Fiona Patten, due to the possibility of splitting the non-conservative vote in the count for the last seat.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Henriques-Gomes |first1=Luke |title=Reason v socialism in Victorian election: Fiona Patten gears up for a fight |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/nov/11/reason-socialism-victorian-election-fiona-patten?CMP=share_btn_tw |work=the Guardian |accessdate=10 November 2018 |language=en |date=10 November 2018 |archive-date=3 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240903040043/https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/nov/11/reason-socialism-victorian-election-fiona-patten?CMP=share_btn_tw |url-status=live }}</ref> This ticket was supported by a wide variety of trade union groups, including the ETU, the National Union of Workers, the CFMMEU, the UFU, the Australasian Meat Industry Employees Union, and the Victorian Allied Health Professionals Association.<ref name="Hutchinson-2018">{{cite news |title=Unions back Victorian Socialists' campaign |url=https://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/state-politics/unions-back-victorian-socialists-campaign/news-story/a70e35c22fb409de8f479acefc06a7ff?nk=8cda7c7c17126dd58856ca055576a5f7-1539687875 |work=The Australian |accessdate=16 October 2018 |language=en |last1=Hutchinson |first1=Samantha |date=15 October 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Carey |first1=Adam |title=Socialists hope union donation will secure jolly good election result |url=https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/socialists-hope-union-donation-will-secure-jolly-good-election-result-20180503-p4zd7b.html |work=The Age |accessdate=22 October 2018 |language=en |date=3 May 2018 |archive-date=9 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109035918/https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/socialists-hope-union-donation-will-secure-jolly-good-election-result-20180503-p4zd7b.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The ETU secretary Troy Gray justified this support over parties such as the Australian Labor Party, a traditional unionist party, by stating that Jolly was the only candidate representing "blue collar values".<ref name="Hutchinson-2018" />
Following allegations of an unspecified nature, Jolly resigned from Victorian Socialists in September 2019.<ref name="Towell-2019" />
=== Local government (2004–present) === In 2004, he was elected as a Councillor for City of Yarra in the Langridge Ward, representing the suburbs of Abbotsford, Alphington, Clifton Hill, Collingwood, Fairfield, Fitzroy and Richmond.<ref>{{cite web |title=Yarra City Council election results 2004 – Victorian Electoral Commission |url=https://www.vec.vic.gov.au/Results/Yarraresult2004.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110329111252/http://www.vec.vic.gov.au/Results/yarraresult2004.html |archive-date=29 March 2011 |accessdate=5 October 2018 |website=Victorian Electoral Commission |language=en}}</ref> In 2017, Jolly voted in favour of the controversial decision to cancel its Australia Day ceremony as a part of the Change the Date campaign.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Clure |first1=Ellis |date=15 August 2017 |title=Melbourne council moves to put an end to Australia Day |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-08-15/melbourne-council-votes-to-ban-references-to-australia-day/8810286 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180929160151/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-08-15/melbourne-council-votes-to-ban-references-to-australia-day/8810286? |archive-date=29 September 2018 |accessdate=5 October 2018 |work=ABC News |language=en-AU}}</ref> This resulted in backlash from the federal government whereby the council was stripped of its citizenship powers and the council being protested by nationalist groups.<ref>{{cite news |date=16 August 2017 |title='We warned them': Council's Australia Day stance draws federal sanction |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-08-16/yarra-council-stripped-of-citizenship-powers/8813982 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180920192349/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-08-16/yarra-council-stripped-of-citizenship-powers/8813982 |archive-date=20 September 2018 |accessdate=12 October 2018 |work=ABC News |language=en-AU}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=6 September 2017 |title=Far-right group disrupts council meeting to protest against Australia Day changes |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-09-06/yarra-council-meeting-interrupted-by-far-right-group/8876688 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180831232244/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-09-06/yarra-council-meeting-interrupted-by-far-right-group/8876688 |archive-date=31 August 2018 |accessdate=9 November 2018 |work=ABC News |language=en-AU}}</ref>
==== Mayor of Yarra (2024–present) ==== thumb|266px|Jolly and other City of Yarra councillors in February 2025 In 2024 Jolly was elected as the Councillor for the Mackillop ward.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Waters|first=Rachael Dexter, Tom Cowie, Adam Carey, Sophie Aubrey, Benjamin Preiss, Patrick Hatch, Cara|date=13 November 2024|title=Victorian council election results 2024 LIVE updates: Suspected postal vote tampering in council elections|url=https://www.smh.com.au/politics/victoria/victorian-council-election-results-2024-live-updates-city-of-melbourne-lord-mayor-declared-sacked-casey-councillor-re-elected-20241029-p5km8t.html?post=p57s5m|access-date=19 November 2024|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|language=en|archive-date=21 January 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250121152611/https://www.smh.com.au/politics/victoria/victorian-council-election-results-2024-live-updates-city-of-melbourne-lord-mayor-declared-sacked-casey-councillor-re-elected-20241029-p5km8t.html?post=p57s5m|url-status=live}}</ref> Jolly ran with a grouping of independents named "Yarra for All".<ref name="Cowie-2024">{{Cite news |last1=Dexter|first1=Rachael|last2=Cowie|first2=Tom|date=12 November 2024|title=Down and out in Yarra, but Greens offset heartland losses|url=https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/yarra-darebin-councils-not-as-green-as-before-as-party-s-power-shifts-across-city-20241112-p5kpv7.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241112052043/https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/yarra-darebin-councils-not-as-green-as-before-as-party-s-power-shifts-across-city-20241112-p5kpv7.html|archive-date=12 November 2024|access-date=19 November 2024|work=The Age|language=en}}</ref> The grouping picked up 4 out of 9 councillors, dislodging the Greens from power.<ref name="Cowie-2024" /> On 19 November 2024 Jolly was elected to serve as mayor of the City of Yarra for 2025.<ref>{{cite web |date=19 November 2024|title=Yarra City Council tonight elected Cr Stephen Jolly as Mayor and Cr Sarah McKenzie as Deputy Mayor for 2025|url=https://www.facebook.com/yarracitycouncil/posts/pfbid038FbJVPsVe68f2msNDFjiJWSo8cxqaYErbf2yD19MHKitvw5jsCp5LC74bJHz1gtel?rdid=scYAx0xLAONSKv3F|archive-url=https://archive.today/20241119084152/https://www.facebook.com/yarracitycouncil/posts/pfbid038FbJVPsVe68f2msNDFjiJWSo8cxqaYErbf2yD19MHKitvw5jsCp5LC74bJHz1gtel?rdid=scYAx0xLAONSKv3F|archive-date=19 November 2024|access-date=19 November 2024|website=Facebook|publisher=Yarra City Council}}</ref> He was re-elected in November 2025 to serve as mayor for 2026.<ref>{{Cite web |date=12 November 2025 |title=Yarra City Council's Mayor and Deputy Mayor elected for 2026 {{!}} News, Yarra City |url=https://www.yarracity.vic.gov.au/about-us/news-and-media/yarra-city-councils-mayor-and-deputy-mayor-elected-2026 |access-date=14 December 2025 |website=www.yarracity.vic.gov.au |language=en}}</ref>
Jolly has been opposed to a new emergency services levy. The Victorian government plan would have local councils collecting the levy on behalf of the state government. He has stated that the levy would make councils "debt collectors for Spring Street".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Swain |first=Sarah |date=26 July 2025 |title='People can't afford to put food on the table': Councils protest new levy |url=https://www.9news.com.au/national/melbourne-news-councils-protest-new-emergency-services-levy/0ba3a645-9318-493e-bc44-32237fde63c2 |access-date=2 March 2026 |website=Nine News |language=en-AU |archive-date=5 December 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251205084049/https://www.9news.com.au/national/melbourne-news-councils-protest-new-emergency-services-levy/0ba3a645-9318-493e-bc44-32237fde63c2 |url-status=live }}</ref>
In October 2025, Jolly was charged with assault following an alleged incident at an election afterparty in Fitzroy in November 2024. He has stated that he will contest the charge.<ref>{{Cite news |date=21 October 2025 |title=Mayor of inner-Melbourne council says he will fight assault charge |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10-21/yarra-mayor-stephen-jolly-to-fight-assault-charge/105918388 |access-date=21 October 2025 |work=ABC News |language=en-AU}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Dexter |first=Rachael |date=21 October 2025 |title=Yarra mayor charged with unlawful assault |url=https://www.smh.com.au/politics/victoria/yarra-mayor-charged-with-unlawful-assault-20251021-p5n48g.html |access-date=21 October 2025 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |language=en |archive-date=21 October 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251021062119/https://www.smh.com.au/politics/victoria/yarra-mayor-charged-with-unlawful-assault-20251021-p5n48g.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
As Mayor, Jolly has called for a safe injecting room in Richmond to be relocated away from its current location next to a primary school. A former advocate for the facility, he called its placement "the greatest public policy disaster in recent Victorian history".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dexter |first=Rachael |date=12 November 2025 |title='Greatest public policy disaster': Yarra backflips, wants injecting room moved |url=https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/greatest-public-policy-disaster-yarra-backflips-wants-injecting-room-moved-20251112-p5nerh.html |access-date=14 December 2025 |website=The Age |language=en |archive-date=14 December 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251214005300/https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/greatest-public-policy-disaster-yarra-backflips-wants-injecting-room-moved-20251112-p5nerh.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Under Jolly's leadership, the City of Yarra, voted in November 2025 to end its long-term support for the room.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wilson |first=Eleanor |date=12 November 2025 |title='It's madness': Council renews calls to relocate safe injecting room away from school |url=https://www.9news.com.au/national/safe-injecting-room-richmond-yarra-council/c8de43b1-fb97-4283-b089-32dbe3811cc8 |access-date=14 December 2025 |website=Nine News |language=en-AU |archive-date=16 December 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251216194835/https://www.9news.com.au/national/safe-injecting-room-richmond-yarra-council/c8de43b1-fb97-4283-b089-32dbe3811cc8 |url-status=live }}</ref>
Jolly has been critical of a Victorian government plan to demolish public housing towers, some of which are in Yarra council's area, calling it a "land grab for developers". In testimony to a parliamentary enquiry, he stated that the plan was designed to hand over valuable real estate to construct "high-rises for rich people". Jolly, a former public housing tenant, stated that "[t]his is ethnic cleansing. This is class cleansing. If those towers go down, Fitzroy will be wall-to-wall rich people." The government stated that the towers are "past their shelf life" and "not habitable"; however, he said "Eighty per cent of private high-rise apartments in Melbourne ... don't reach the minimum standards that have been used against the public housing towers right now as a reason for demolition".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dexter |first=Rachael |date=22 July 2025 |title=Public housing tower demolition plan is 'ethnic cleansing', says mayor |url=https://www.smh.com.au/politics/victoria/public-housing-tower-demolition-plan-is-ethnic-cleansing-says-mayor-20250722-p5mgu5.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250723094716/https://www.smh.com.au/politics/victoria/public-housing-tower-demolition-plan-is-ethnic-cleansing-says-mayor-20250722-p5mgu5.html |archive-date=23 July 2025 |access-date=14 December 2025 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |language=en-AU}}</ref>
== Personal life == Jolly is in a romantic relationship with fellow Yarra councillor Evangeline Aston.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Grant |first1=Gemma |last2=Napier-Raman |first2=Kishor |date=19 November 2025 |title=Cupid's arrow strikes at Yarra City Council |url=https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/cupid-s-arrow-strikes-at-yarra-city-council-20251116-p5nfsm.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251214005714/https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/cupid-s-arrow-strikes-at-yarra-city-council-20251116-p5nfsm.html |archive-date=14 December 2025 |access-date=14 December 2025 |website=Brisbane Times |language=en-AU }}</ref>
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == {{commons category}} * [https://twitter.com/stephenjolly99 Official Twitter account] * [https://www.richmondhighschool.info/stuff/behind-the-lines Behind the Lines: Richmond Secondary College – A School That Dared to Fight]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Jolly, Stephen}} Category:1962 births Category:1989 Tiananmen Square protests and massacre Category:21st-century Australian politicians Category:Australian builders Category:Australian socialists Category:Australian trade unionists Category:Chinese democracy activists Category:Irish emigrants to Australia Category:Irish expatriates in South Africa Category:Irish expatriates in the United Kingdom Category:Leaders of political parties in Australia Category:Living people Category:Politicians from Melbourne Category:Trade unionists from Melbourne Category:University of Cape Town alumni Category:Victoria (state) local councillors