Inquiry to address gender/cultural bias and bad behaviour in council

The status quo needs a shake-up, says Adelaide City Council’s third female Lord Mayor in 179 years. She’s backing calls for an inquiry into gender and cultural equity.

A Persian councillor, backed by the Adelaide Lord Mayor and her deputy, both women with migrant heritage, is calling for an inquiry on gender and cultural equity in the Adelaide City Council.

The aim is to circuit-break alleged bias and bad behaviour among councillors and create a safe place for generations of new local government leaders, said family violence survivor and Afghan-born councillor Arman Abrahimzadeh.

Cr Abrahimzadeh said it was not uncommon for elected members, due to the adversarial nature of meetings, to descend into what can sometimes be experienced as bullying and bias. It’s a recent complaint raised in other councils and in state and federal politics.

Adelaide City Council Deputy Lord Mayor Mary Couros, Lord Mayor Sandy Verschoor and Councillor Arman Abrahimzadeh. Picture: Keryn Stevens

His motion for an inquiry, will be discussed at tomorrow night’s council meeting and has the backing of Lord Mayor Sandy Verschoor and Deputy Lord Mayor Cr Mary Couros.

“We need to shake up the status quo and be brave in our decision making,” said Ms Verschoor, daughter of Dutch immigrants.

Of the council’s 12 members, four are female and half were either born outside Australia or are first-generation migrants.

Ms Verschoor said the city’s diverse and multicultural community should be reflected within the elected body, committees, and boards. “The more perspectives being brought to the table the better,” she said.

Sandy Verschoor, daughter of Dutch immigrants, became Adelaide City Council’s third female Lord Mayor in the council’s 179-year history. Picture: Dean Martin

Cr Couros, daughter of Greek immigrants, said that while the council had strong female leadership in the chamber and staff, the gender scale was still tipped in men’s favour. She said that until there was equality in numbers it would be difficult to attract more young women and people from diverse cultures to run for local government.

Cr Abrahimzadeh will ask council’s acting chief executive Clare Mockler to identify culture and gender diversity gaps within the council.

He wants Ms Mockler to recommend ways for the council to better reflect cultural and gender diversity and, in turn, prevent bullying and bias in and outside the chamber.

“We must ourselves build a respectful culture where gender equity and diversity are celebrated, emboldened and acknowledged as an elected body,” he said.

Adelaide City Councillor Arman Abrahimzadeh, with his sisters Atena and Anita, marking the 10-year anniversary last year of their mother’s (Zahra) brutal murder by their father. Pictured – they recreate the Persian New Year table as Zahra did days before her death in 2010. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe

Local Government Association SA President Angela Evans said council members were community leaders and their treatment of others and each other should be exemplary.

“Diversity among council members is also important, as it achieves more accurate representation of our communities, and may help to ensure member behaviour accords with community expectations,” said Ms Evans, also Lord Mayor of Charles Sturt.