Geelong council’s male-dominance ‘extremely disappointing’ to Women in Local Democracy group

A record number of female candidates vying for spots at City Hall did not translate to an uptick in representation, and the “extremely disappointing” outcome is being attributed to multiple factors. HAVE YOUR SAY.

A concerted campaign for gender parity on Geelong council failed to achieve the desired result.

Hope that Geelong council would achieve gender parity for the first time has been replaced with disappointment that female representation at City Hall has fallen.

Three women were elected to the 11-member group, down from four in the previous cohort.

The fall came despite the number of female candidates increasing from 11 in 2020 to 23 this year, which represented 46 per cent of all candidates.

The Women in Local Democracy (WILD) group held a series of events that encouraged women to nominate and the subsequent results has left a sour taste in the mouth of local convener Jenny Wills.

“WILD is extremely disappointed with the outcome,” she said.

“Factors of incumbency, conservatism and single representation wards are surely key reasons for the results which place the City of Greater Geelong towards the bottom of the gender parity league ladder for councils.”

Melissa Cadwell, Elise Wilkinson and Emma Sinclair are the female members of the new 11-member Geelong council. Picture: Supplied.

Ms Wills praised all female candidates, particularly Emma Sinclair, Melissa Cadwell and Elise Wilkinson, who were elected to the Charlemont, Cheetham and Connewarre wards respectively.

“I congratulate the elected women councillors and all the progressive women candidates for their considered and comprehensive policies, which were in stark contrast to the outdated and ill-informed ‘back to basics’ stances of some candidates,” Ms Wills said.

Ms Wills elaborated on the “back to basics” campaign run by a number of successful male candidates, including Liberal members Andrew Katos and Stretch Kontelj, in a newsletter sent to WILD members on Tuesday.

“In the 21st century, contrary to ill-informed ‘back to basics’ claims of some candidates, local government’s mandated roles and responsibilities are both wide in scope and complex,” the WILD newsletter stated.

Jenny Wills (middle) with local Labor politicians Gayle Tierney and Libby Coker at a WILD event in August. Picture: Supplied

Ahead of the election, a group of female candidates issued a joint statement that said “greater gender equality in leadership is not just the right thing to do, it also makes good economic sense”.

Ms Wills said while it was disappointing more women weren’t elected, some came close to victory.

This included Greens candidate Emilie Flynn in the Kardinia ward, who fell 508 votes short against Mr Kontelj.

Ms Flynn was one of five Greens female candidates in Geelong, while the party’s three Surf Coast Shire candidates were also women.

“All five of our candidates who narrowly missed out were younger women, each of whom ran against and ultimately lost to older male candidates,” the Greens said in a statement.

“These outcomes contribute to a growing imbalance, with men now making up a disproportionate majority on both councils.

“The Greens view this as a critical issue, highlighting the need for greater representation of younger voices and more gender diversity in council decisions.”

The Greens and WILD share the view the state government’s shift to single-member wards had hurt its own efforts to achieve gender equity in local government by 2025.

Originally published as Geelong council’s male-dominance ‘extremely disappointing’ to Women in Local Democracy group