Victoria has its highest number of women mayors on record, following the 2003 Mayoral elections. All Victorian Councils elected new mayors after the 54 Local Government elections in March.
A total of 28 women Mayors were elected , setting a new record of 35 per cent, up from 28 per cent in 2002.
Chair of the Women’s Participation in Local Government (WPILG) Coalition, Councillor Judith Voce, who was elected Mayor of the City of Boroondara, said women were seen as high performers and recognised as leaders.
“I am delighted that so many other women Councillors have been chosen this year,” Councillor Voce said. “It is a sign that women are well established in Local Government. We still have a long way to go, with 29 per cent of Councillors being women overall and still five Victorian Councils with no women at all, but we know now that we will get there. There is a clear recognition that better decisions are made when women and men share leadership.”
WPILG Project Officer, Linda Bennett, said of the 28 Councils with women mayors, 12 elected women for second and third terms.
“This is part of a generational change,” Linda Bennett said. “We know that representation of men and women together ensures better decision making on critical issues and creates better opportunities for real democracy.”
