With council elections taking place right across Australia in 2012, there is a growing focus on promoting gender equity in Local Government. Representing 50 percent of the population, only a third of councillors’ are women. Highlighting the need for proactive campaigns to encourage increased participation by women in the third tier of government.
NSW Minister for Local Government, Don Page recently addressed the Australian Local Government’s Women’s Association (NSW) conference in Dubbo. Mr Page said, “We all want to see councils that reflect the diverse communities they serve – that can only happen if there are more women councillors, more women mayors, and more women in other leadership roles in local government.”
Part of this process, according to Mr Page, is demystifying the election process and the role of councillors once elected. The Division of Local Government in NSW has developed a brochure titled ‘Stand For Your Community, Be A Councillor’ and is running Candidate Information Seminars (see page 11) to attract under represented groups, such as women, to Local Government.
Similar actions have been taken by The Victorian Local Government Association (VGLA) to encourage women to run as candidates in the 79 council elections taking place across Victoria in October. Under the State Government funded initiative, Think Women for Local Government 2012, the VGLA is running a series of 11 forums across the State focusing on informing women about how to stand up and be counted on councils.
The City of Boroondara’s sole serving female councillor, Cr Coral Ross, has commented, “It is often said that a council which does not reflect its community cannot serve its community.” There is an imperative, it would seem, for women to become involved and for councils to begin to more accurately represent the diversity of their communities.
