A dozen women filled the public gallery of Whittlesea City Council chamber on July 27 to oppose an ALP council back-down on the appointment of a part-time women鈥檚 policy officer.
The women were mostly part of the council-sponsored 鈥淲omen Matter Two鈥 network, which seeks to enhance women鈥檚 participation in public life and politics in Melbourne鈥檚 working-class, outer-north suburbs.
In June, council voted almost unanimously to set aside $50,000 in the council鈥檚 annual budget to create this part-time position: 2010 is the Year of Women in Local Government.