We support and encourage women’s participation in local government in Tasmania.
In 1947 Gladys Boniwell was elected to Glenorchy Council, becoming the first woman elected to local government in Tasmania. Dorothy Edwards CBE was elected to Launceston Council in 1949 and served as mayor 1955-1957, the first woman mayor of an Australian city.
Now 39% of councillors in Tasmania are women, including Sorell Council with a record 66% women councillors. As of the 2022 local government elections a record 52% of Tasmania’s mayors are women.
Join us in striving for equal participation for women in all aspects of local government.
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Since 2014, there has been a steady increase in the number of female local government candidates. At the 2022 local government elections there were 181 female candidates, compared to 173 female candidates in 2018 and 135 in 2014.
Out of the 181 female candidates at the 2022 local government elections, 106 women were elected as councillors. This includes 18 women elected as Deputy Mayor and 15 as Mayor.
Women and diversity in local government
Department of Premier & Cabinet, 2022