❓ The Minister for Local Government provides statistics on female and Indigenous representation in local government following the October elections, noting an increase in female councillors but a decrease in Indigenous councillors.
AnsweredQoN 882Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS — DIVERSITY OF REPRESENTATION
As a former Wanneroo councillor, I know the importance of a diversity of representation in local government elected members. Can the minister please give us an indication of the outcome following the recent elections in October? Mr G.M. CASTRILLI
As a former Wanneroo councillor, I know the importance of a diversity of representation in local government elected members. Can the minister please give us an indication of the outcome following the recent elections in October? Mr G.M. CASTRILLI
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Wanneroo for his question and his ongoing interest in local government issues. It is important that the diversity of our population is reflected in our elected member representation, both at a local and a state level. The Department of Local Government encourages people to stand for elections, with emphasis on the underrepresented groups—females and people of Indigenous background. As at the 17 October elections, of the 620 successful applicants, 187 were females, which represents about 30 per cent. There are now 375 female councillors, which is about 32 per cent of the 1 158 filled positions. That is an increase from 28.6 per cent on the 2007 elections. I think that trend is encouraging. There are 33 elected female mayors and presidents and 100 elected male mayors and presidents, and six positions are still to be decided. Of the 21 Indigenous candidates in the 17 October elections, 11 were successful. There are now 29 sitting Indigenous councillors. Unfortunately, that is down from 35 in 2007, so we have a long way to go. We need to ensure that those people who are making decisions on behalf of local government represent the diversity of our population.
Mr G.M. CASTRILLI replied: I thank the member for Wanneroo for his question and his ongoing interest in local government issues. It is important that the diversity of our population is reflected in our elected member representation, both at a local and a state level. The Department of Local Government encourages people to stand for elections, with emphasis on the underrepresented groups—females and people of Indigenous background. As at the 17 October elections, of the 620 successful applicants, 187 were females, which represents about 30 per cent. There are now 375 female councillors, which is about 32 per cent of the 1 158 filled positions. That is an increase from 28.6 per cent on the 2007 elections. I think that trend is encouraging. There are 33 elected female mayors and presidents and 100 elected male mayors and presidents, and six positions are still to be decided. Of the 21 Indigenous candidates in the 17 October elections, 11 were successful. There are now 29 sitting Indigenous councillors. Unfortunately, that is down from 35 in 2007, so we have a long way to go. We need to ensure that those people who are making decisions on behalf of local government represent the diversity of our population.
I thank the member for Wanneroo for his question and his ongoing interest in local government issues. It is important that the diversity of our population is reflected in our elected member representation, both at a local and a state level. The Department of Local Government encourages people to stand for elections, with emphasis on the underrepresented groups—females and people of Indigenous background. As at the 17 October elections, of the 620 successful applicants, 187 were females, which represents about 30 per cent. There are now 375 female councillors, which is about 32 per cent of the 1 158 filled positions. That is an increase from 28.6 per cent on the 2007 elections. I think that trend is encouraging. There are 33 elected female mayors and presidents and 100 elected male mayors and presidents, and six positions are still to be decided. Of the 21 Indigenous candidates in the 17 October elections, 11 were successful. There are now 29 sitting Indigenous councillors. Unfortunately, that is down from 35 in 2007, so we have a long way to go. We need to ensure that those people who are making decisions on behalf of local government represent the diversity of our population.
Mr G.M. CASTRILLI replied: I thank the member for Wanneroo for his question and his ongoing interest in local government issues. It is important that the diversity of our population is reflected in our elected member representation, both at a local and a state level. The Department of Local Government encourages people to stand for elections, with emphasis on the underrepresented groups—females and people of Indigenous background. As at the 17 October elections, of the 620 successful applicants, 187 were females, which represents about 30 per cent. There are now 375 female councillors, which is about 32 per cent of the 1 158 filled positions. That is an increase from 28.6 per cent on the 2007 elections. I think that trend is encouraging. There are 33 elected female mayors and presidents and 100 elected male mayors and presidents, and six positions are still to be decided. Of the 21 Indigenous candidates in the 17 October elections, 11 were successful. There are now 29 sitting Indigenous councillors. Unfortunately, that is down from 35 in 2007, so we have a long way to go. We need to ensure that those people who are making decisions on behalf of local government represent the diversity of our population.
I thank the member for Wanneroo for his question and his ongoing interest in local government issues. It is important that the diversity of our population is reflected in our elected member representation, both at a local and a state level. The Department of Local Government encourages people to stand for elections, with emphasis on the underrepresented groups—females and people of Indigenous background. As at the 17 October elections, of the 620 successful applicants, 187 were females, which represents about 30 per cent. There are now 375 female councillors, which is about 32 per cent of the 1 158 filled positions. That is an increase from 28.6 per cent on the 2007 elections. I think that trend is encouraging. There are 33 elected female mayors and presidents and 100 elected male mayors and presidents, and six positions are still to be decided. Of the 21 Indigenous candidates in the 17 October elections, 11 were successful. There are now 29 sitting Indigenous councillors. Unfortunately, that is down from 35 in 2007, so we have a long way to go. We need to ensure that those people who are making decisions on behalf of local government represent the diversity of our population.
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