At Victorian local government elections in October there was a significant increase in the number of female councillors elected, including a record number of mayors.
The gender balance in Council chambers across the state is now looking a lot more equal, with 243 or 38 percent of all Victorian councillors women, which has jumped from 34 percent in 2012.
All 78 councils (excluding Geelong which is in administration) now have at least one female councillor and 32 female mayors have been elected, which is a new record.
Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) Chief Executive Officer Rob Spence said the results are a welcome trend.
“While we’ve got a way to go to reach equal gender representation around the councillor table, this is a step in the right direction,” he said.
Victorian Local Governance Association (VLGA) President, Councillor Sebastian Klein, also welcomed the news and said the VLGA has a long history of supporting a better gender balance and diversity amongst councillors.
The Association ran a series of GoWomenLG sessions in the lead up to the elections, which offered practical advice for women who were interested in standing.
Cr Klein said the results are a significant step forward.
“What’s more, in 2016 we have seen a record number of women elected as Mayor.”
“This is a fantastic result and an important milestone for local government,” said Cr Klein.
“Once again we see local government taking the lead in ensuring that those who govern our communities reflect the make up of our communities.”
