Women candidates to speak at forum

THE community will have the chance to meet the women candidates running in this year’s City of Greater Geelong council elections at a forum next week.

Hosted by the Empowering Women 50/50 x 2025 Network in partnership with Women in Local Democracy (WILD) and Geelong Regional Libraries, the forum will take place on Thursday, August 8 between 5.30pm and 7.30pm at the Geelong Library & Heritage Centre.

The event will give people an opportunity to meet the 13 women candidates slated to attend the forum, with each to speak about the key issues on which they’re standing and what they hope to achieve as councillors.

The forum will also feature addresses by keynote speakers Western Victorian MP Gayle Tierney and federal Corangamite MP and patron of the Empowering Women Network Libby Coker.

They will speak on the actions being taken to achieve gender equality and the importance of women’s leadership and equal representation across all levels of government.

WILD convenor Jenny Wills said October’s local government elections would be a learning curve for both electors and candidates as Greater Geelong’s 11 new wards take effect.

“This is a chance to really support gender equality in our city and to get behind the outcome of gender parity – the state government’s target for the elections,” she said.

“We’ve had a history of women claiming the right to vote and then the right to stand and now the right to be elected.

“It means that electors have to vote for the women if we’re going to get them on council.”

Ms Coker said the voices and experiences of women had helped change public perception and government policies, providing better outcomes not just for women but for society.

“Women bring unique perspectives and invaluable experiences to the table and their participation in local elections is not just beneficial, it is essential for a truly representative democracy,” Ms Coker said.

“Under the Albanese government, the voices and experiences of women are changing public policy.

“You can see, across every portfolio, this has made a difference.

“The experience and perspective of women is driving our actions with a record $3.4 billion to help end family, domestic and sexual violence.

“We have also expanded paid parental leave to 26 weeks, increased the cheaper childcare subsidy and the gender pay gap is now at a record low, with the participation rate of women in work reaching a historic high.”

The forum is free, but bookings are required.

To register, head to events.grlc.vic.gov.au/event/10877222