A bid to allow councillors to attend meetings online after coronavirus restrictions lift could improve female representation on councils.
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The NSW Government has authorised councils to hold official meetings electronically instead of physically for a further six months until March 25 next year, as communities continue to recover from the pandemic.
Minister for Local Government Shelley Hancock said the government would explore the use of remote access to council meetings to help increase diversity in local government, including female representation.
"As part of the government's election of women to local government action plan, we are also exploring the use of remote access to council meetings to help increase diversity in local government including female representation," Mrs Hancock said.
"Many councils hold their meetings at night which can be difficult for people with family and carer responsibilities.
"Remote access to council meetings could help us overcome one of the barriers to increasing the number of female councillors in NSW councils."
Wingecarribee Shire Council is one of three councils in NSW with no female councillors.
The current cohort, made up of men with a range of experience, was elected in 2016.
The election marked the first time in more than three decades a female councillor had not been elected to council.
Mrs Hancock said local government "can do better" in terms of the gender gap.
"Currently, women represent just 31 per cent of all NSW councillors, which in 2020 is just not good enough," she said.
"While we have made steps towards equality in other parts of society, the gender gap in local government is real and we can do better."
Mayor wants to see diversity
Wingecarribee Shire Council mayor Duncan Gair said he would support the use of remote access to council meetings beyond March 25 next year.
"We've got to try and get better representation across the shire," Mayor Gair said.
Mayor Gair said an upgrade to the council chambers would include extra screens, which would allow councillors to attend meetings both in-person and online.
"It is making it easier, in my opinion, for anybody to be part of representing their council," he said.
However Mayor Gair said he wouldn't like to see councillors attend all meetings remotely after coronavirus restrictions lift.
"I think there still has to be a percentage of face-to-face meetings to create camaraderie," he said.
OLG encourages women to run for councils
The Office of Local Government (OLG) has identified five key barriers to female participation in local government at an elected representative level.
These include the perceived culture of councils and councillor conduct, the investment of time and money, feeling unqualified and balancing carer and work commitments.
There is also a barrier in terms of awareness of local government and the role of councils and councillors.
Mrs Hancock said the OLG has called on 10 prominent women to share their passion for local government and encourage more women to run for councils at the September 4 elections next year.
The campaign features former and current female councillors including Lucy Turnbull, Clover Moore, Linda Scott, Marianne Saliba, Katrina Humphries and Kristy McBain.
"We've also secured $100,000 for a series of workshops and programs for potential female candidates," Mrs Hancock said.