As a councillor, Leticia Laing is entitled to claim some childcare-related expenses for after-hours meetings, under the Local Government Act. But when she did, a local paper “exposed” what she was spending, and branded her their council’s “most expensive”. She shares why this is yet another barrier for women.
Much time has been spent researching why women are under-represented at all levels of government, but particularly local government.
However, it’s clear a good place to start would be by removing the stigma around women using the support available to them and their families, like early childhood education and other childcare services.
Sadly, this continues. Let me explain.
Personally, I truly once believed that intentional shaming of “working women” was a thing of the past. That mothers no longer needed to feel guilty for leaving the office to pick up young kids prior to the local childcare centre closing for the evening. And that mothers also could finally call in to say they were working from home with a sick child, without experiencing the rolled eyes of colleagues. I thought that the pandemic surely had put an end to to all that.
Unfortunately, I recently experienced that the shaming continues, after I was “exposed” for claiming $1418.86 in childcare-related expenses for my three children, aged 11, eight and six, to attend after-hours council meetings over six months.
I was labelled the “most expensive” councillor, despite having only the third highest level of reimbursements recorded. A little different to other workplaces, councillors are indeed allowed to have childcare reimbursed as a part of the Local Government Act, which also covers councillors with family members that have different care needs.
Maybe I was deemed to have the most newsworthy angle because I was the only female councillor with young children, and therefore the only one who claimed childcare.
And that’s the really sad part. We want more working women in local government to represent the important interests of this large, growing and hard-working group in society.
Barriers to accessing early childhood education is one of the reasons women can’t contribute as effectively to the workforce. Often, the issue is that the support mechanisms that should be there for working parents aren’t enough . But it’s a whole other issue when the mechanisms are available — but then weaponised against women..
I’m not the only one. Other female councillors have come under scrutiny for being reimbursed for childcare recently.
Conversations which target women and make them feel bad for accessing support can be further offputting for those thinking about putting themselves forward to serve the community. I knew some women who now feel too scared to claim childcare reimbursements, for the fear of being attacked. That then is limiting their opportunities, and the opportunities of local government to have the best possible representation.
I wasn’t doing anything wrong by seeking reimbursement for childcare. I try to save those costs as much as possible, but sometimes I need them to do the best job I can for the people I am representing.
I admit I wasn’t surprised when the “costliest councillor” article came out because I’ve spoken to many women councillors who have been in the same boat, but I had hoped to avoid the scrutiny.
If it weren’t for those reimbursements, I would not have been able to do the best job I can for the people I am representing. As the only councillor with young children in council, I feel like I have a different perspective to offer on what it’s like living on the Bass Coast.
The irony is that Bass Coast Shire Council has been applauded for being progressive in introducing equal parental leave rights for both parents. Bass Coast Shire Council was the first Victorian LGA to introduce 16 weeks of paid parental leave, and one year of paid superannuation for both men and women.
But I was quickly convinced by other supportive women, alongside Bass Coast Shire Mayor Cr Michael Whelan, to turn the criticism I have experienced into a positive, and encourage discussions around privilege and accessibility in the workforce.
We recently established the ‘Women Leading Locally Forum’ to support women to become community leaders. Current and former councillors have come together to share their insights and experiences, and discuss the benefits of having more women on council.
One of the questions posed by the forum was around how to build resilience in the face of unwarranted criticism, because the systems have been created without working mothers’ needs in mind.
More than that, it is bad for democracy if it is only people who can afford childcare from their own pocket are able to represent their communities. People who have really diverse backgrounds and life experiences all deserve a seat at council because evidence shows that’s how communities get better.
If the Victorian Government were serious about seeing equal numbers of male and female councillors, they would address this issue by removing the need to report this expense against a councillor.
It may seem like a small thing, but it could make a huge difference to women councillors across Victoria and to those considering running.
There are so many brilliant, talented women out in our community who have so much to offer. Being a councillor is a challenging and rewarding opportunity. It isn’t easy all the time, but everyone that stands for council is there to make a difference.
I hope that we can plant a seed that will grow into our community having greater women’s representation because we deserve a seat at the table and shame-free childcare enables us to take that seat.