Colac Otway Shire Council welcomes first transgender councillor, Tosh-Jake Finnigan, after countback

Victoria’s first openly trans councillor has been sworn in and is no stranger to controversy, having been the whistleblower in Labor’s red shirts saga during the state election campaign in 2018.

Colac Otway Shire Council CEO Anne Howard with newly sworn in councillor Tosh-Jake Finnigan. Photo: Supplied.

The Colac Otway Shire has elected Victoria’s first openly trans-identifying councillor to its ranks.

Tosh-Jake Finnigan, 29, was sworn into the role on Wednesday after a Victorian Electoral Commission countback.

Cr Finnigan, who prefers to use the pronouns they/them, first identified as non-binary in public at 21 and said it had been an empowering journey.

Colac Otway Shire Council CEO Anne Howard with newly sworn in councillor Tosh-Jake Finnigan (right) Photo: Supplied.

They become the first trans-identifying person elected to a council in Victoria’s history and the second youngest for the council.

“I hope to be the first of many, it’s an important step,” Cr Finnigan said.
“Whilst I never set out to be the first, I will do my very best to set a good example and blaze a trail for future LQBTQIA+ candidates.
“I would also like to state that being trans is only one part of my identity, and I will do what I can for everyone within our shire, regardless of who they are.”

Cr Finnigan was the whistleblower in Labor’s red shirts probe during the state election campaign in 2018, in which it emerged casual electorate officers were part paid by taxpayers to work as political organisers for Labor at the election.

They, who is also known as “Toshua” and is a talented musician, took the oath of office on Wednesday, saying “there is a lot of work to be done to ensure Colac Otway is a seen not just as somewhere to visit, but for people to raise their families and plant their roots.”

Tosh-Jade Finnigan is also a talented musician. Photo: Facebook.

They own a musical store and a stake in the Ti Tree Hotel at Warrion.

“Maybe more candidates who do identify that way might now see that it is possible to get up,” Cr Finnigan said.

“I think it’s becoming more accepted.

“For most people it is a non issue and there is very little outright scorn and those people are entitled to hold those views, I just disagree with them.”

Their extraordinary countback was brought on following Colac Otway councillor Joe McCracken’s election to the Legislative Council for the Western Victoria Region last month.

Originally published as Colac Otway Shire Council welcomes first transgender councillor, Tosh-Jake Finnigan, after countback