The Victorian Government has welcomed the results of the State’s 2012 council elections, which saw women secure the largest percentage of female candidates delivered to local office.

“A total of 656 women stood as candidates in the 78 councils for the 2012 elections, representing a third of the 2,003 nominations for the 631 vacancies,” State Minister for Local Government Jeanette Powell said.

“The number of female councillors increased from 180 to 215 and the number of female Mayors increased from 18 to 30.

“Importantly, women also now hold the majority of positions on the board of the Municipal Association of Victoria and the Ministerial Mayors Advisory Panel.”

Mrs Powell said the increase in the number of women came after a vigorous campaign by the Victorian Coalition Government and the local government sector to attract more women candidates to council elections.

The Coalition Government provided $200,000 for the Victorian Local Governance Association’s Think Women for Local Government 2012 project.