Two men for every woman on staff at country’s largest council, data shows

Despite the focus on gender equality in pay and representation, limited data is available at a council level, Local Government Professionals Australia national president Victoria MacKirdy said.

The body, which represents council staff, launched an “ambitious” campaign last month to have women in at least 40 per cent of council leadership positions by 2025 nationwide.

Ms MacKirdy, who is also chief executive of the Victor Harbour City Council in South Australia, said this, along with the election of more female councillors, was hoped to have flow-on effects to the workforce.

More data was also needed to help identify and address gaps in the sector, she said. In February, the Workplace Gender Equality Agency found men were paid 13.4 per…