The push to cut gendered titles from council positions heats up ahead of LGAT debate

A PUSH to remove the title alderman from the Local Government Act is gaining momentum, with a petition calling for councils to use more inclusive language.

Greens candidate for Hobart Council Holly Ewin wants council to drop titles such as alderman from use. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

A PUSH to remove the “confusing” and “outdated” title alderman from the Local Government Act is gaining momentum ahead of the LGAT annual conference next week where the motion will be debated.

The motion is being put forward by the Burnie City Council.

Under the Local Government Act, a person elected to a city council may be referred to as an alderman.

Such an amendment would affect the six councils that are defined cities – Burnie, Clarence, Devonport, Glenorchy, Hobart and Launceston.

Hobart City Council will decide its position on the motion at its next general meeting.

Greens candidate for Hobart Holly Ewin has started a petition calling on the council to remove gendered titles from council positions.

“The gendered language council uses – for example, ‘alderman’ and ‘chairman’ – is incredibly outdated,” the petition reads.

“Council has a responsibility to reflect community values of inclusivity and non-discrimination, and should replace these and other instances of gendered language with gender-neutral terms.”

Burnie alderman Amina Keygan, who proposed the LGAT motion, said the term alderman was archaic and caused confusion in the community.

“The etymology of the word means ‘old man’ and that is not representative of council,” she said.

“It causes a lot of confusion in the community about why there is a difference between city representatives and representatives from smaller communities,” she said.

“In the move for more inclusive language and to encourage people from all walks of life to be part of council, I want to have the word alderman removed,” she said

But not everyone is convinced of the urgency of the motion.

Glenorchy Mayor Kristie Johnston said the council’s focus was on its financial position.

“In that context we haven’t focused on what we’re called,” she said.

Hobart aldermen Tanya Denison and Eva Ruzicka said there were more pressing issues on the LGAT agenda to deal with.

But alderman Helen Burnet supported the change.

“It is such an old-fashioned title,” she said.

“I would quite happily answer to councillor.”