Women in Local Government

The Candidates and Councillors 2008 report indicates that in NSW 33 percent of election candidates, 27 percent of councillors and 25 percent of mayors were women.

According to information currently held by the NSW Division of Local Government (DLG), 5 percent of General Managers and 21 percent of senior staff are women in NSW councils.

Promoting Gender Equity

Local Government NSW (LGNSW) supports the 50:50 Vision - Councils for Gender Equity and encourages membership of the Australian Local Government Women’s Association (ALGWA) by NSW councillors and staff.

We support councils in the voluntary establishment of community based Women’s Advisory Committees to provide advice on decisions that have particular impacts on women.

Local Government Women’s Committee

LGNSW address issues regarding women's participation in Local Government through the Local Government Women's Committee.

The committee’s work in this area responds to and is informed by:

• NSW Local Government Women's Charter.
• Local Government Association of NSW – Policy Statement on Women.
• Local Government legislation and regulations.
• Local Government corporate governance matters.
• Policies and programs of other spheres of government.
• Relationships with other peak bodies involved in women's participation.
• Other barriers to women's participation.

NSW Local Government Women’s Charter

In 2004, the leaders of the Local Government Association of NSW, the Shires Association of NSW, the Australian Local Government Women's Association NSW and the Local Government Managers Australia NSW Division signed a charter for women in Local Government. This charter enshrines principles expressed in national and international protocols, which highlight equal rights and opportunities for women as central to achieving good local governance.

In support of increased women's participation in local decision making and in democratic local governance in NSW, both in terms of elected representation and across all levels of employment, we, as representative agencies, support the following principles:

• That women and men have an equal right to be representatives in local governance.
• That women and men have an equal right to employment in Local Government and equality in recruitment procedures.
• That, in recognition of the value of different experiences and perspectives, councils and communities encourage and welcome the participation of women in all aspects of Local Government.
• Local Governments are in a unique position to work with the community to increase the numbers and participation of women in public life, so that decision-making more clearly represents and reflects the interests and demography of communities.