Chief executive Matt Elliott and chair Jane Fenton have resigned; senior legal counsel Jeffrey Tan and chief of operations Desmond Dobbyn also departed. A QVM spokesperson said Elliott and Fenton’s exits were not related to the review but due to “the end of set terms,” and that Tan and Dobbyn had decided to move on. Judith Swales, chair of Super Retail Group, will replace Fenton.
Traders have raised a series of grievances. Rosa Ansaldo, owner of Rospaul Fresh Fruit for 38 years, said things have never been harder. She pointed to the closure of Peel Street and Franklin Street entry points to the open-air carpark, forcing traffic via Queen Street and creating long queues. Nearby parking costs are prohibitive, she said, equating to “a loaf of bread and a litre of milk.”
Traders were told to vacate southern storage sheds on Franklin Street by January 15. The market management offered underground storage in a new traders shed, but leaks have been reported, raising concerns that traders may be left without suitable storage at the height of summer.
Waste charges, suspended after trader anger, were introduced in early 2025 despite suggestions from traders to reduce them through recycling. Francesco Fontana of Fontana Brothers said the renewal project has had “some merits” but has become an excuse for quiet trading conditions. He called management “incompetent” and said another strike is not off the table.
Mary-Lou Howie, president of Friends of Queen Victoria Market, criticised the management of public assets, saying $250 million has been spent without clear improvement. She argued that the Gurrowa Place development, which includes three towers and would turn the carpark into green space, sacrifices essential revenue and storage.
A QVM spokesperson said the market was “thriving” and that the group would work on relationships through the review and beyond. Lord Mayor Nick Reece welcomed the new chair and said the board would focus on a smooth leadership transition.