The Victorian Minister for Women’s Affairs, Mary Wooldridge, and Minister for Local Government, Jeanette Powell, have addressed the Think Women for Local Government launch at the State Parliament in a bid to promote greater female participation in local government.

 

“In Victoria there are more women than men but women are under-represented in many areas of local government," Ms Powell said.

 

"There are 79 Councils in Victoria but only 14 have female CEOs, just 30 per cent of councillors are female and five councils have no female councillors currently sitting.

 

"We need to do more to assist women to rise to the most senior positions in local government and events like today's are part of an ongoing effort to lift the level of female participation in local government.”

 

To help address the issue the Victorian Coalition Government has partnered with the Victorian Local Governance Association on the Think Women for Local Government 2012 project.