City of Busselton voters snub women

Seventy per cent of candidates who ran in the election were female and only one woman Coralie Tarbotton was elected to serve her second term on council.

All of the four men who ran found themselves a seat on the City of Busselton council.

In the 2013 local government elections, no women were elected to the City of Busselton despite making up 30 per cent of the candidates who ran.

Ms Tarbotton was one of nine women who ran in this election and said she was absolutely devastated by the outcome and thought more women would have been elected.

“I thought I would have been one of four women representing the city now I will have to equal four,” she said.

“We need to work on building better profiles for women in the community.”

At a special council meeting on Monday night Ms Tarbotton was elected deputy mayor by her fellow councillors and will serve alongside Grant Henley who was elected mayor.

Ms Tarbotton said she would like to have conversations with women’s groups and give people who want to run for council a better profile in the community.

“It would have been great to have more women and balance on council,” she said.

“Not that I’m saying men can’t be balanced but it is important to try and get more women into these roles,” she said.

Mayor Henley said while the electors had spoken he would have hoped for a more equal demographic represented at council.

“All people that were elected are very capable regardless of their gender,” he said.

Former councillor Jenny Green missed out on serving a second term by 0.5 per cent of votes and was beaten by new comer Ross Paine.

Ms Green said although she was disappointed with the outcome she would continue working in public life.

“I’ve asked mayor Henley for a two year leave of absence because I will be back,” she said.

“I am so thrilled Coralie is the deputy mayor she is a very dedicated councillor and very passionate that is what we both shared together as females on council.

“We would often get together to discuss issues to the betterment of the community without comprising our integrity.”

The turnout rate for the City of Busselton was 34 per cent of 23,158 people eligible to vote in the election this was an increase of four per cent from 2013.

Leading the poll was new comer Paul Cater with 15 per cent of votes followed by John McCallum, Robert Reekie and Ross Paine.

Have your say: Do you think women in the community will be fairly represented at council? Email emma.kirk@fairfaxmedia.com.au.