Female councillors speak out on Geelong City Hall’s gender imbalance

Geelong council’s backwards step away from gender parity caused discourse prior to the October election, but is it a problem?

It’s been an interesting first few months for Geelongs new council.

It is impossible to argue, regardless of your political persuasion, that the first few months of City Hall’s new council, dominated by an all-male conservative majority, have not been controversial.

The public gallery was booted last month, division over the reintroduction of Australia Day celebrations, and some pointed comments from Mayor Stretch Kontelj regarding the “scourge of socialism” are just a few examples that have caused some consternation.

But what has been lost among the heckling, name calling and lengthy, often partisan, social media posts arguing about how the other “side” is wrong, is the distinct lack of gender parity among the 11-member council.

This came despite a concerted push, and widespread optimism, that it would finally be achieved.

Ultimately, just three women were elected – and just one of them is a new face.

Tensions have marred recent Geelong council meetings.

The trio – Melissa Cadwell, Emma Sinclair and Elise Wilkinson – all sit, to varying degrees, on the left side of the political spectrum.

Notably, each voted against the contentious move to reinstate Australia Day celebrations and citizenship ceremonies.

Some keen council watchers have privately noted, rightly or wrongly, that interactions between them and some members of the all-male majority have been disrespectful in nature.

Ms Cadwell, the Cheetham ward representative who was comfortably re-elected, said the disrespect of women was an ongoing issue at City Hall.

“I don’t think the council got off to a good start on that approach, a feeling that not everyone’s voices were being treated fairly and adequately consulted,” she said

“There have been a number of councillors who have voiced that concern recently, even in the last few days.

Cr Melissa Cadwell has questioned whether everyone’s voices were being treated fairly at City Hall. Picture: Alan Barber

“Whether that was a deliberate tactic or an approach that will continue …(it’s) compounded by the apparent attempts to silence female councillors, which was a concern for me in the last council too.”

“I think the (recent) election result took a lot of us by surprise, especially this ‘back to basics’ general mantra a lot of people campaigned on.

“I’m on board with the back to basics message, I think councils should focus on core services and providing them to our community at a high level, but I guess I have an expanded idea of what the basics are.”

Women in Local Democracy convener Jenny Wills said there was a feeling of despair among certain sections of the female population in the Geelong region.

“I think it’s that sort of lack of respect for different views and proper discourse,” she said.

“We just don’t expect to have this sort of behaviour (exhibited in recent meetings) in government.”

Jenny Wills (right) with Corangamite MP Libby Coker (centre) at a Women in Local Democracy event in Geelong last year. Picture: Supplied

Sarah Mansfield, a former Geelong councillor who now represents the Greens in Victoria parliament’s upper house, has attended the highly charged council meetings in December and January.

She said Ms Cadwell’s experience was unfortunately not a unique one.

“Being spoken over the top of is an all too common experience for women in many workplaces, including councils,” Ms Mansfield said.

“It shouldn’t happen and it’s up to everyone to call it out.”

Greens MP and ex-councillor Sarah Mansfield has been a regular at council meetings so far. Picture: Alison Wynd

Mayor Stretch Kontelj said the issue was not something that has been brought to his attention.

“I haven’t seen that, if it’s been happening, I’ve not been conscious of it happening,” he said.

“I’ve checked with councillors, no one’s made a complaint to say there’s been any discourteous exchange at all, it’s all been respectful.”

Mr Kontelj, a Liberal Party member of three decades who has unsuccessfully run for the parliament previously, said he was happy with the way the councillor group was conducting itself.

“Everyone has been given the opportunity to speak,” he said.

Stretch Kontelj said he hadn’t noticed any disrespectful behaviour. Picture: Alan Barber

“We accept that we’re not always going to agree, but we’ve always made sure that after those meetings where there hasn’t been a unanimous decision, that people are checked in with, just to make sure everyone is fine.

“I’ve made a real effort to make sure everyone is OK.”

Charlemont councillor Emma Sinclair, a first-term councillor who previously stood for state parliament for Fiona Patten’s Reason Party, said she hadn’t witnessed any disrespect.

“Everyone has been respectful and engaging with me,” she said.

“I’ve worked hard to start to build positive relationships and I really want to keep working on that, and there’s no one that has indicated that won’t be possible.

Charlemont ward Geelong councillor Emma Sinclair said everyone had been respectful to her so far.

“The real conversations are happening, which is nice to see, and they’re happening in a respectful way.”

Nonetheless, Ms Sinclair said the Australia Day debate was distressing.

“The subject matter has been distressing and witnessing that distress is upsetting” she said.

“I genuinely care about the safety of the community, and seeing that really sensitive topic, obvious as a human, you react to that.”

Council will meet again on Tuesday and while a less controversial agenda is expected, people will be watching closely.

Originally published as Female councillors speak out on Geelong City Hall’s gender imbalance