Bega Valley Shire Councillor. Jo Dodds speaking on gender issues at the National General Assembly of Local Government. Photo: Ian Campbell.
A Councillor from South East NSW has suggested that ‘bullying’ is an issue Local Government needs to address in order to protect existing women Councillors and encourage a new generation of leaders.
Speaking on the opening morning of the National General Assembly of Local Government in Canberra, the Bega Valley Shire’s Jo Dodds told the 875 delegates at the National Convention Centre that bullying was one of the top issues facing female Councillors.
Pointing to the recent conference of the Australian Local Government Women’s Association in Gundagai, Cr Dodds said fellow female Councillors at the event in March spoke of the hurt, anger, and fear they feel working in local government, and being leaders for their community.
“It was terrible to see,” Cr Dodds said.
“And I note that 70% of women have experienced violence in their lives [so] one can only assume that the women in that room have already experienced violence.
“[and are now] in a situation of going to provide leadership for their communities whilst not only dealing with their own backgrounds of surviving violence but experiencing it again in the workplace.”
Suggesting a relevance locally, Cr Dodds said its an issue she would have raised in the Bega Valley Shire Council chamber had the Reedy Swamp, Vimy Ridge, and Tathra Bushfires not engulfed the operations of the organisation.
“What are we doing about this? What are the structures in place to support women in those circumstances?” Cr Dodds asked.
“How do we move beyond just codes of conduct [and] into the sort of protections that are afforded to women in the workplace generally?”
“Without those protections, I can’t in good conscience invite young women and soft voices into a space where they are likely to be abused and harassed.”
Virginia Hausseggar, Director, 50/50 by 2030 Foundation. Photo: Ian Campbell.
Virginia Hausseggar, Director of the national gender equality initiative, the 50/50 by 2030 Foundation, took up the discussion.
“You are doing exactly what we need to do, you are raising it, bringing it to a conference like this and raising it,” Ms Hausseggar said to Cr Dodds.
The former ABC TV presenter said the research done by her organisation across the local government sector supported Cr Dodds experience.
“What this also shows us is the value in having greater diversity in local councils,” Ms Hausseggar said.
“We don’t have the solutions right now [but] at least people have the courage to raise these issues.”
Ms Hausseggar challenged the Mayors, Councillors, and General Managers in her audience to lead a community discussion on the issue.
“Diversity is about men and women and everyone in between, and bullying affects everyone,” she says.
“Bring teams together to really brainstorm this, and talk about standards and talk about what we walk past, and what we don’t accept.”
The Assembly continues until Wednesday.
*This story first appeared on RiotACT
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