Minister for Women’s Policy Malarndirri McCarthy is urging Territory women in remote areas to nominate to represent their communities as councillors in the Territory’s new Shires.

 

Nominations close on October 2 for Shire Council elections, which will be the first elections for the Territory’s eight new Shires.

 

Ms McCarthy said it was vital that women had a strong voice in their communities, encouraging women to nominate as an opportunity to be heard.

 

“We need diversity and broad experience on these new Shire Councils, and women in our remote areas can bring new voices to the table,” she said.

 

“The Government’s Local Government reform is all about delivering better services and driving economic opportunities in our regions, and what better way for women to have their say than to get themselves onto a Council.

 

“In a lot of these communities it is the women who are the driving force behind a lot of decision making and are the community backbone, so it makes a lot of sense to bring this drive to the table to play an important role in service delivery in their regions.”

 

Ms McCarthy said while they had been represented on community councils in the past, there was always room for more strong and proactive women to have their say.

 

“There are women who have given long and valued service to local government councils in the past – women such as Daisy Yarmirr in Minjilang, Irene Nungala from Kintore, Therese Nipper and Daphne Puntjina from Areyonga, and Rosalie Kunoth-Monks from Urapuntja,” she said.

 

Nominations for Shire Councillors will close at 12 noon on October 2, and the elections will be held on October 25.

 

More information on becoming a Shire Councillor can be found at www.shireelections.nt.gov.au, at Council offices, or by contacting the NT Electoral Commission on 1800 019 159.

 

 

 

Contact: Maria Billias 0401 119 746