I believe that Cr Katie Milne’s expulsion from the Tweed Shire Council general manager selection panel is unjustified. According to my research Katie’s comments regarding the possibility of having a female general manager are in line with an Australian government initiative (and I quote): ‘to increase women’s participation in the workforce, and the number of women in decision-making and leadership roles in Australia’ http://www.dfat.gov.au/facts/women.html
Therefore I believe her expulsion on the grounds that she said, ‘It would be wonderful to see a female general manager get the top job, but an applicant with environmental credentials would be better,’ is totally out of line with government policy and does not constitute a valid reason for her expulsion. She has clarified that she ‘would never want a less qualified person in charge because she was a woman’. As for her wish for someone with environmental credentials, what a bonus that would be for the Tweed shire!
I believe that the six councillors need to be held accountable for voting in favour of Katie’s expulsion, and that they should reinstate her onto the selection panel with a formal public apology for their actions.
Dave Norris
