WOMEN IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT

The Hon. P.L. WHITE (Taylor) (14:27): My question is to the Minister for State/Local Government Relations. Is the minister receiving support in her efforts to increase women's participation in local government?

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE (Wright—Minister for State/Local Government Relations, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Volunteers, Minister for Consumer Affairs, Minister Assisting in Early Childhood Development) (14:27): As members would know, I am very committed to increasing the number of women in local government, both in—

Ms Chapman interjecting:

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE: Pardon? What was that? Are you going to put your finger in your mouth today or put your whole fist in? If you could just keep quiet for two seconds, it would be really good.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE: It is really important to have increased numbers of women elected to local government, as well as in senior management positions. I know that the member for Finniss does not think so. Currently, we have something like 26 per cent of women elected to local government and approximately 16 per cent in senior management positions. Out of the 48 mayoral positions that are popularly elected, women hold only 10 of those positions, and only one female chair has been elected internally in councils. In our 68 councils, there are only two women chief executive officers, and those are in Walkerville and Kangaroo Island.

This is clearly an issue that needs to be addressed if the decision making in councils is to be truly reflective of the communities they represent. The Local Government Association agrees that it is an issue, and its Executive Director chairs a state/local government working group on women in local government, which has been endorsed by a Minister for State/Local Government Relations forum. This working group includes representatives from the Local Government Management Association, council representatives and the Australian Services Union, as well as state government representation. Its task is to come to grips with the issues and identify possible remedies to respond to the under-representation of women.

The Local Government Managers Association here in South Australia is also managing a project to showcase good practice examples of current efforts, experiences and approaches that support women officers employed in South Australian councils. The City of Playford is hosting a Women's Leadership in Local Government Conference on 24 September this year, bringing together women from local government right across the state, and our push for greater participation is also being taken up at the national level.

The Australian Local Government Women's Association strongly holds the view that more needs to be done to achieve greater representation of women in local government and has established a national steering committee. It is also holding a national conference here in Adelaide in April next year. I am pleased that the federal Minister for the Status of Women (Hon. Tanya Plibersek) has supported the Australian Local Government Women's Association with funds of $67,000 to assist in its project, and I have most recently been advised that the Local Government Managers Association national board recently adopted the establishment and promotion of the Year of Women in Local Government as a key strategy platform.

In planning for this, the Local Government Managers Association will host a national forum in Canberra on 2 and 3 September to look at understanding the issues and challenges as well as the possibilities and benefits related to increasing the participation of women in local government management and proposing and defining the Year of Women in Local Government management. I am very pleased that the need for greater participation of women both as elected officials and senior managers in local government is receiving significant support now around the nation.