Record number of women candidates in 2012 council elections

A record number of women are standing for election in the forthcoming Victorian council elections, making up a third of all candidates in the poll. But campaigners insist it is just the start, urging more women to get involved in public life.

By MADELEINE ALCOCK

WOMEN are making a bigger impact on local politics, with women making up a third of all candidates for the 2012 Victorian council elections.

Rob Spence, Chief Executive Officer of the Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) said in a press release that it was “pleasing” to see more female candidates.

“Thirty-three per cent of all candidates are women, up from thirty-one per cent in 2008.”

In Hindmarsh Shire, which previously had no female councilors, the election will mean at least one woman elected to the council chamber. She is running unopposed.

Despite the record number of female candidates, campaigners still believe more could be done to get women into politics.

Meghan Hopper, a council candidate for Moreland and worker for Emily’s List, an organisation helping women to get elected to state and federal parliament, said she was concerned that only a third of candidates were women.

“I think it’s really important that we see more women running for councils,” she said.

“Three of the five [former Moreland female councilors] aren’t standing this time around, so it’s important that we’re voting for more progressive women to continue to fill that voice on council,” she said.

Ms Hopper said the hours of council could be a “balancing act” for women with family and work commitments, and the money and experience needed to campaign were also issues facing women who wanted to run for council.

Voters will go to the polls in the Victorian council elections on October 27.