There are more men named Peter on the new Queanbeyan-Palerang council than there are women.
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Experienced Queanbeyan councillor Trudy Taylor is joined by newcomer Radmila Noveska from Country Labor as the only two women to be elected.
The council was announced on Thursday with the other nine members being Tim Overall, Brian Brown, Mark Schweikert, Trevor Hicks, Kenrick Winchester, Michele Biscotti, Peter Bray, Peter Marshall and Pete Harrison.
The vote has simultaneously halved Queanbeyan’s former female council representation, while doubling Palerang’s. From 2012 to 2016 Queanbeyan City Council had four women while Palerang Council had one.
Of the 80 total candidates at this year’s election only 28 were women, which represents 35 per cent of the candidate field.
However, women only make up 18 per cent of the newly elected council.
Ms Taylor, who won the general councillor election in 2012, said despite being returned at this election she was disappointed with the lack of women.
“I think it’s very disappointing there were only two women elected,” Ms Taylor said.
“I like to think women bring sensibility to things.
“But looking at the people there, you’ve got some very experienced councillors looking after the community.”
Ms Taylor said woman had to either lead tickets or be higher up on strong tickets to get better representation on council.
“I think it comes down to women don’t seem to want to put themselves further up tickets,” she said.
Only one of the 11 tickets that contested the election was led by a woman, former councillor Sue Whelan.
Four out of 11 tickets had women running in second place, including Ms Taylor and Ms Noveska.
Former mayor Tim Overall hoped that Queanbeyan-Palerang would see more women elected at future elections.
“I think that was one of the more disappointing outcomes of the election but I’m sure we’ll see that change at subsequent elections,” he said.
With Andrew Brown