MILDURA councillor Helen Healy is encouraging more women to run for council seats at the upcoming local government elections.
Mildura Rural City Council has never had equal gender representation and has not had a female mayor since Ann Cox died in office in 2002.
Of its nine members, the current council includes only two women – deputy mayor Min Poole, and Cr Healy, who was appointed when former councillor Ali Cupper was elected to State Parliament.
It marks the lowest level of female representation on the council since 2003, when no women were elected.
Cr Healy, Mildura’s community development and gender equality councillor, believes it is time the make-up of the council better reflected the community in Sunraysia.
“Wouldn’t it be wonderful to look around the city council chamber and see our diverse community represented, not only 50-50 women but also people from our First Nations, old and young, and multicultural community,” she said.
But Cr Healy said as well as being “the right thing to do”, gender equality on the council could have a great benefit to the municipality.
Research, including a recent study from the Australian Workplace Gender Equality Agency, suggests businesses and governments do better with improved gender balance and more women in leadership positions.
“Achieving gender equality makes good sense on all levels,” Cr Healy said.
“But I believe it must be based on merit – and that’s no issue as currently we have some very smart, capable and committed women candidates who are already leading local change.”
The Victorian Government has set a target of reaching equal representation on local councils by 2025, with women making up just 38 per cent of councillors.
However, the push for more women candidates comes amid concerns fewer women will run for office at this year’s elections due to the impact of COVID-19.
The pandemic has had a disproportionate impact on women, with increased financial stress as well as additional childcare responsibilities.
The call for more female candidates also follows former candidate Racheal Fyfe’s withdrawal from the race due to concerns over online threats and bullying.
For more information on running, visit
www.mildura.vic.gov.au/Council/About-Council/Council-Elections.
