Re: Deputy mayor under fire for ‘working mum’ remarks
I listened to incoming Gunnedah Deputy Mayor Rob Hooke’s comments on ABC Radio about outgoing Deputy Mayor Kate McGrath, and frankly I was appalled.
His suggestion that McGrath’s capacity to serve as Deputy Mayor was somehow compromised because she is a working mother with children is not only patronising, it could not be further from the truth.
McGrath has already demonstrated that she can balance work, family and public service. She served successfully as Deputy Mayor for two years. She has also made perfectly clear why she chose not to nominate again: she does not support Colleen Fuller continuing as Mayor and believes a Deputy Mayor must be able to work constructively with and support the Mayor.
That is a decision about leadership and governance. It has nothing whatsoever to do with being a working mother.
The irony is difficult to miss. The new Mayor and Deputy Mayor have a combined age of 159. Age should no more disqualify Fuller or Hooke from public office than motherhood should disqualify McGrath. They should all be judged on their capacity to do the job.
And that is where things become interesting.
New England Times reported more than 20 minutes of procedural confusion at the very meeting at which Fuller was returned as Mayor, including difficulties with meeting procedure. McGrath has since stated that she has been advised Hooke will chair council meetings going forward.
Why?
Chairing council meetings is surely one of the most fundamental responsibilities of a Mayor. If the Mayor is capable of performing that responsibility, why is the Deputy Mayor apparently going to do it? If she cannot chair the meetings, ratepayers are entitled to ask why she is Mayor.
Against that background, Hooke having a swipe at a working mother’s supposed capacity to perform the Deputy Mayor’s role is breathtaking.
Women across the New Engalnd and North West combine careers, children, families and community responsibilities every day. They should be encouraged to put their hands up for leadership, not have their motherhood used against them by men who apparently think having children is evidence of diminished commitment or capacity.
Kate McGrath has already proved she can do the job.
Perhaps Cr Hooke should spend less time questioning the capacity of working mothers and more time explaining why, as Deputy Mayor, he apparently needs to do part of the Mayor’s job.
Denise McHugh is an experienced educator in Tamworth. She is Chair of the NSW ALP Education and Skills Committee and Deputy President of the Independent Education Union (IEU).
All opinion and comment on New England Times Engage is the opinion of the writer and not New England Times.
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