Networking events target women for top local government jobs

A series of networking workshops on attracting more women to top local government jobs is being held around the state over the next two months.

Local Government Minister Warren Pitt said the workshops, which start in Toowoomba tomorrow (February 17), would bring together women from all spheres of government to address this important issue.

“As we celebrate 80 years since the first woman was elected to Queensland’s parliament, there is no better time for women in government – not just in Queensland, but also nationally,” Mr Pitt said.

“Queensland is being led by our first female Premier, Anna Bligh, and Australia also has its first woman Deputy Prime Minister, Julia Gillard.”

Mr Pitt said that at last year’s March 15 local government elections, the proportion of female councillors increased from 30 percent to 34 percent, with 14 percent of all mayoral positions also held by women.

“In some councils, such as the Fraser Coast Regional Council and the Cairns Regional Council, the elections have resulted in female councillors being the majority,” he said.

“But it’s important to note, these women are achieving these positions not because they are women, but because they are the best people for the job.”

Mr Pitt said the Women in Local Government (WILG) networking workshops would build on this success by bringing together the collective knowledge and expertise of women from all spheres of government.

“By harnessing their ideas, we can use their experiences to develop policies that will remove the barriers for women participating in every role at all levels of government.”

Mr Pitt said the Bligh Government recognised the value of women in government and had undertaken initiatives to make local government participation more attractive to women.

“In this year’s budget, we have invested $108,000 in the Women in Local Government Strategy Group to develop initiatives to support and promote women in local government,” Mr Pitt said.

“The strategy group aims to increase the representation of women in local government, so that councils more accurately reflect their communities.

“To do so, we need to target every aspect of the employment process and develop strategies to attract and retain women in local government – particularly in decision-making and councillor positions.

“That’s why these workshops are vitally important – they are an excellent example of local, state and federal government departments working together for the benefit of Queensland communities.

For more information, visit www.dlgsr.qld.gov.au.

The schedule of WILG workshops is detailed below.

South East region:

Ipswich - 4 March

Sunshine Coast - 6 March

Logan - 9 March

South West:

Toowoomba - 17 February

Roma - 17 March

Warwick - 25 March

Central:

Emerald - 5 March

Rockhampton - 9 March

Hervey Bay - 10 March

North:

Mackay - 16 March

Townsville - 16 March

Mount Isa - 19 March

Far North: (TBA)

Cairns

Atherton

Thursday Island

Media contact: Minister Pitt’s Office 3227 8819