By Alesha Capone
A Wyndham councillor has argued that it is “not appropriate” to release a draft gender equality strategy for community consultation during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Cr Tony Hooper told a council meeting last month “there is no need to rush” the issue.
However, a majority of councillors have voted in favour of releasing the Towards Equality strategy for feedback now.
In August last year, six councillors voted against seeking public feedback on the strategy, which had at that point cost $16,000 to develop.
At the time, Cr Hooper opposed the strategy in its entirety based on “principle”
“I cannot support poor policy wrapped up in the cloak of action on domestic violence”, he said.
Last month he said the revised strategy “is an improvement on the previous draft” however it wasn’t the right time to release it.
“I believe that it’s inappropriate for council to be attempting to consult with community on this important strategy during the COVID19 pandemic.”
He said the council had months to consult on the issue and “there is no need to rush”.
Cr Peter Maynard said he did not understand why the strategy had not already been released for feedback.
“I think we’ve wasted about six months, when it was voted down last time,” he said.
“Now we’re in the middle of a pandemic and we could’ve had this thing underway.”
Cr Mia Shaw said: “Regardless of your personal views, this strategy should go out to the community for consultation, it is the right thing to do.”
The draft Towards Equality document aims to help the council create “a safe and inclusive community” where women, men and gender-diverse people have equal access to power, resources and opportunities, and a life free from violence.
It includes actions such as identifying “gendered barriers” to participating in the workforce; mandatory staff training to assist in identifying violence against women; and offering programs, books and toys, which promote gender equality and respectful relationships, through libraries.
Development of the Towards Equality draft strategy was overseen by the council’s Safer Communities Portfolio Committee and the Gender Equity Sub Committee, including representatives from Victoria Police, WestJustice, Women’s Health West, Wyndham Community and Education Centre, Odyssey House and the Department of Health and Human Services.
Kim McAliney said the draft strategy would be available for public feedback for a period of eight weeks, instead of four weeks, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Details: theloop.wyndham.vic.gov.au for details.
