Advocacy
ALGWA SA aims include:
- advocating for the common interests of women who are engaged in or interested in local government in South Australia.
- raising awareness of and advocating for positive changes on issues facing women in local government.
- contributing to public discussion for the awareness of and action on issues that generally protect and advance the interests and rights of women consistent with rules of law.
ALGWA SA advocacy actions include submissions such as:
Submission to the Inquiry into Superannuation and Remuneration in South Australia's Local Government sector: 13 April 2026
Submission to Local Government Association SA Electoral Commission of SA’s 2022 Council Elections report:15 Sept 2025
ALGWA SA surveyed its women elected members and sent its submission to the Minister on Electoral Reforms . Key points in its submission included:
o increasing the Elected Members allowance to be equitable with other States
o accessible caring arrangements
Submission to Local Government Association SA to inform sector response to the State Government Local Government Participation and Elections Review: 2023
ALGWA SA advocated for mandatory voting in council elections, flexible meeting times, equitable allowances, and accessible caring arrangements — all practical steps to remove barriers for women.
ALGWA SA member survey responses included: "For many people (especially women) it is difficult to put aside family duties and unpaid work (caring, parenting etc) for Council without sufficient remuneration."
One woman council member’s response was: “I generally dedicate at least 2-3 days’ work a week into my role as a Councillor in addition to working four days per week, and being a parent to two children. Being able to reduce another day at work would make a big difference in allowing me to engage better with constituents.”
Submission to the Inquiry into Superannuation and Remuneration in South Australia's Local Government sector: 13 April 2026
- This submission reflects ALGWA’s longstanding advocacy for equity, participation, and strong governance within local government. It highlights a fundamental issue that South Australian Local Government Elected Members are currently the lowest paid on mainland Australia. They receive no compulsory superannuation and are remunerated by way of a stipend rather than a salary. As a result, they fall outside both employment and volunteer frameworks. ALGWA SA is asking for a complete review of the remuneration, not just a CPI increase on the existing insufficient payment structure.
- The absence of compulsory superannuation stands in stark contrast to the broader Australian workforce, where superannuation is a legislated entitlement. This inequity disproportionately impacts women and those with non-linear career paths, and acts as a barrier to participation in local government. The combination of low remuneration, lack of superannuation, and unclear legal protections results in a system that is not only inequitable, but structurally unsound.
- A key barrier for women standing for election to local government can be the lack of access to superannuation, with women unwilling to take on more work with insufficient remuneration.
Submission to Local Government Association SA Electoral Commission of SA’s 2022 Council Elections report:15 Sept 2025
ALGWA SA surveyed its women elected members and sent its submission to the Minister on Electoral Reforms . Key points in its submission included:
- Increased voter turnout through mandatory voting (South Australia being one of only two states where it is not mandatory). The majority of ALGWA SA members are in support of this.
- Addressing barriers to increase women’s participation through:
o increasing the Elected Members allowance to be equitable with other States
o accessible caring arrangements
- Increased access for rural and regional constituents through mandatory live streaming and recording of meetings also reducing the Local Government sector’s carbon footprint.
Submission to Local Government Association SA to inform sector response to the State Government Local Government Participation and Elections Review: 2023
ALGWA SA advocated for mandatory voting in council elections, flexible meeting times, equitable allowances, and accessible caring arrangements — all practical steps to remove barriers for women.
ALGWA SA member survey responses included: "For many people (especially women) it is difficult to put aside family duties and unpaid work (caring, parenting etc) for Council without sufficient remuneration."
One woman council member’s response was: “I generally dedicate at least 2-3 days’ work a week into my role as a Councillor in addition to working four days per week, and being a parent to two children. Being able to reduce another day at work would make a big difference in allowing me to engage better with constituents.”
ALGWA SA advocates for Behavioural Standards that provide a safer and more civil inclusive working environment within councils.
ALGWA SA has been helping women councillors navigate the mandatory council Behavioural Standards.
At its March 2025 ALGWA SA workshop, women mayors and councillors reported on issues with the Behavioural Standards system such as its slow implementation; the council member who is the subject of the complaint typically receives no assistance and has to pay for their own defence. Some women councillors reporting that bullying and harassment and mental toll on female councillors has been significant with some seeking psychological support to cope with their experiences and that the councillor complaint system is being misused and overrun with petty grievances, often targeting women.
ALGWA SA called on the Local Government Association (LGA SA) for an early intervention panel and exploring new processes to identify behavioural issues sooner and resolve them faster and for stronger punishment for perpetrators, including potential bans from running for office.
Representation from ALGWA SA members led to Hon. Connie Bonaros MLC on 5 June 2025 taking a motion to Parliament calling for an independent inquiry into bullying and harassment in the local government sector.
In September 2025, LGA SA engaged Flinders University to conduct an independent Local Government Leadership and Behaviour Review, with the support of the Equal Opportunity Commissioner. The review will investigate good governance practices and undertake assessment of the behavioural issues present in the local government sector, identifying what works and what can be improved to strengthen council capability. The review will also seek the perspectives and views of former and current council members who have served within this term of council, along with CEOs and relevant staff to ensure a comprehensive understanding of leadership and culture across the sector.
ALGWA SA has been helping women councillors navigate the mandatory council Behavioural Standards.
At its March 2025 ALGWA SA workshop, women mayors and councillors reported on issues with the Behavioural Standards system such as its slow implementation; the council member who is the subject of the complaint typically receives no assistance and has to pay for their own defence. Some women councillors reporting that bullying and harassment and mental toll on female councillors has been significant with some seeking psychological support to cope with their experiences and that the councillor complaint system is being misused and overrun with petty grievances, often targeting women.
ALGWA SA called on the Local Government Association (LGA SA) for an early intervention panel and exploring new processes to identify behavioural issues sooner and resolve them faster and for stronger punishment for perpetrators, including potential bans from running for office.
Representation from ALGWA SA members led to Hon. Connie Bonaros MLC on 5 June 2025 taking a motion to Parliament calling for an independent inquiry into bullying and harassment in the local government sector.
In September 2025, LGA SA engaged Flinders University to conduct an independent Local Government Leadership and Behaviour Review, with the support of the Equal Opportunity Commissioner. The review will investigate good governance practices and undertake assessment of the behavioural issues present in the local government sector, identifying what works and what can be improved to strengthen council capability. The review will also seek the perspectives and views of former and current council members who have served within this term of council, along with CEOs and relevant staff to ensure a comprehensive understanding of leadership and culture across the sector.
ALGWA SA advocates for gender equity on councils
Together with its national association, ALGWA SA aims to achieve a gender balance among councils as an important aspect of democracy. It believes that local governments should be representing their communities, of which women make up over 50 percent. A balance of men and women as council decision makers allows for opinions, debate, policies and services to reflect the community and providing visible female role models, inspiring more women to participate in local governance.
ALGWA SA advocacy actions include:
- women elected to councils
- women during their terms on council
- women after their terms on council.
Together with its national association, ALGWA SA aims to achieve a gender balance among councils as an important aspect of democracy. It believes that local governments should be representing their communities, of which women make up over 50 percent. A balance of men and women as council decision makers allows for opinions, debate, policies and services to reflect the community and providing visible female role models, inspiring more women to participate in local governance.
ALGWA SA advocacy actions include:
- supporting increasing the number of women candidates in Council elections since 2006
- providing free informal mentoring and networking to:
- women elected to councils
- women during their terms on council
- women after their terms on council.
Find us on Facebook, Instagram and Email |