Record number of women running for Vic local government

The number of women who have nominated to contest this month’s Victorian local government elections has reached a new peak.

Minister for Local Government Shaun Leane said that of the 2186 people who had nominated as candidates for the 24 October elections, 851 (or 39 percent) were women.

At the 2016 elections, 34 percent of the 2135 candidates were female.

“It is a sign that Victoria is making progress towards the 50 percent representation target set by our gender equality strategy,” Mr Leane said.

The elections will be conducted exclusively by postal vote and – with more than 4.5 million voters enrolled – will be the largest yet undertaken in Victoria.

It will also be the first election where candidates must have completed a local government candidate training course through Local Government Victoria.  

LGV is also reminding candidates that they must comply with coronavirus restrictions and follow safe campaigning guidelines.