I am deeply disappointed by comments made on ABC Breakfast Radio yesterday by newly elected Deputy Mayor Rob Hooke, suggesting that my role as a working mother prevented me from effectively serving as Deputy Mayor.
As a mother, a professional and an elected Councillor, I reject the idea that raising a family is somehow incompatible with serving the community. The experience of balancing work, family responsibilities and public service provides a perspective that reflects the reality faced by many people across our region.
Every day, working mothers successfully lead businesses, schools, community organisations, and elected bodies. Their contribution is not despite being mothers. It is often strengthened by the skills, resilience, resourcefulness and practical decision making that motherhood develops.
Our region has a number of working mothers in elected leadership roles. Glen Innes Mayor Margot Davis, The Honourable Sarah Mitchell MLC and Gunnedah Shire Councillor Tammey McAllan are notable examples.
The suggestion that being a working mother limited my capacity to fulfil the duties of Deputy Mayor does not reflect my experience, nor the experience of countless women in leadership positions across Australia. If Cr Hooke found the performance of a male colleague to be lacking, would he attribute that to their parental status? If Cr Hooke felt, as he stated, that I was unable to provide Mayor Fuller the level of support she requires, why is her ability not called into question?
More importantly, comments of this nature risk discouraging women, young people and working parents from considering public office. At a time when local government should be encouraging greater participation and diversity, we should be sending a clear message that leadership is determined by commitment, capability and character, not by gender or parental status.
I am grateful for the many community members who have reached out to offer their support. Their messages reinforce what I already know: our community values the contribution of working parents and understands that leadership comes in many forms.
I respect the outcome of the Deputy Mayor election and congratulate Councillors Colleen Fuller and Rob Hooke on their appointments as Mayor and Deputy Mayor. I wish them well in their roles and hope Gunnedah Shire Council delivers strong leadership and positive outcomes for our community over the next two years.
My focus remains unchanged. I will continue to represent the people who elected me, advocate for the issues that matter to our community and contribute constructively to Council decision making.
Working mothers do not need anyone’s permission to lead. They do it every day.
Kate McGrath
All opinion and comment on New England Times Engage is the opinion of the writer and not New England Times.
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