Action on Gender Equality Must Be Front and Centre for Victorian Councils

The Victorian Local Governance Association (VLGA) welcomes the Gender Equality Bill2019, introduced to the Victorian Parliament on 26 November 2019.

The Gender Equality Billis an Australian-first, requiring public service organisations, universities and importantly local government to publicly report on their progress against key indicators including equal pay, sexual harassment and career progression.

Victorian councils will be required to prepare and implement Gender Equality Action Plans and undertake gender impact assessments, which may include the gendered impact of funding allocation on their communities.

This legislation will have wide-ranging implications for local government, a sector worth $9 billion and responsible for over 44,000 employees.

VLGA Chief Executive Officer Kathryn Arndt is a member of the Victorian Ministerial Council for Women’s Equality and the Ministerial Women’s Roundtable chaired by the Minister for Local Government.

The VLGA is committed to achieving the Victorian government’s target of 50 per cent women councillors by 2025 and to increasing the number of women at Chief Executive Officer and senior management levels across all Victorian councils.

The Victorian Local Government Women’s Charter is a guiding document for the Victorian local government sector, enshrining the principles of gender equity, diversity and active participation for Victorian councils and communities. 72 of 79 councils are signatories to the Charter.

In preparation for their requirements under the Victorian government’s new gender equality legislation, we urge the remaining 7 councils to become Charter signatories.

The VLGA looks forward to the passage of the Bill and continuing to work with the government and the 79 councils across Victoria to put gender equality front and centre.

ENDS.

Please attribute to VLGA Chief Executive Officer Kathryn Arndt.
Media contact: Liddy Clark 0403 542 411