The association is a resolute supporter of equal opportunity.
At the same time, the association believes that to achieve the best possible outcomes for residents & ratepayers through local government, our communities should encourage the most capable candidates to seek election as councillors.
The association rejects the suggestion that arbitrary quotas of any description will deliver better quality government at any level.
In what the association believes to be one of the worst decisions taken by the current
NSW Government, the
Minister for Local Government, Shelley Hancock, & the
Minister for Mental Health, Regional Youth & Women, Bronnie Taylor, last week issued
a joint Media Release announcing a $100,000 publicly funded campaign to encourage more women to stand for election as councillors at the next Local Government Elections in September, 2021.
In making the announcement, Bronnie Taylor irresponsibly claimed that:
“Strong, effective councils are those that reflect the diverse communities they serve and represent, which is why we must do all we can to increase female representation. You don’t need any formal qualifications to stand for election – all you need is a strong will and a desire to make a difference in your local community.”
With “flat earth” thinking like that, is it any wonder that Local Government is in so much trouble right around the country? And these people think they should have a seat at the National Cabinet table.
And what about all the other disadvantaged groups in our communities: those who suffer from a physical, mental or emotional impairment, those who have red hair & freckles, football tragics, those who can only hear the ABC, vegans, property developers, divorcees, shoplifters; the list is endless. Where is the government’s commitment to giving them a leg up?
Why not just conduct popularity contests?
For the past four years, the elected council in the Bega Valley has more than met the silly, superficial aspirations voiced by Ms Taylor & Ms Hancock with six of its nine councillors being women.
Among the nine councillors, there are members of all the major political parties & certainly the association believes that all are committed to making a difference in our community: sometimes regardless of whether the community agrees with them or not.
The association believes that for the past four years, the residents & ratepayers of the Bega Valley have been at the mercy of an elected council where the majority in control of its affairs have failed to protect council’s financial position & in the process have presided over the dissipation of tens of millions of dollars in council cash reserves.
Indeed, as one councillor has stated, five of the six women councillors have acknowledged that they do not understand council’s finances & in the view of the association, more often than not do not seem to care.
The association believes that, as a result of the residents & ratepayers of the Bega Valley Shire deciding to elect a council based on shallow populist prejudices, our community has already been deprived of a better standard of local government & will ultimately pay for that through higher rates & charges & reduced quality of services.
The association also believes that the shallow populist thinking that drove last week’s announcement will do nothing to improve the quality of local government in NSW, if the experience of the Bega Valley over the last four years is anything to go by.
The association calls-on the NSW Government to cancel its ridiculous sexist campaign & instead develop a campaign which will encourage all capable & motivated citizens – no matter their gender or age - to offer themselves in serving our community as elected councillors.
John Richardson
Secretary/Treasurer
Bega Valley Shire Residents & Ratepayers Association
Tel: 0264945669
Email: secretary@begavalleyshireratepayers.asn.au
Website: http://www.begavalleyshireratepayers.asn.au