2011 MINISTERS AWARDS FOR WOMEN IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Media Release - Tuesday March 15, 2010

ALGWA PRESIDENT RECOGNISED AT THE 2011 MINISTERS' AWARDS FOR WOMEN IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT

On 8th March 2011 at Parliament House Minister Barbara Perry - Minister for Local Government acknowledged the dedication and hard work by Clr Karen McKeown and acknowledged her by announcing Karen as the Metropolitan Elected Representative Award Winner for 2011.

In 2008 the Minister for Local Government and the Minister for Women established this awards program as part of International Women’s Day celebrations to recognise outstanding contributions and achievements made by women in local government in NSW to and for the local government sector.

The Awards are given to those women who are recognised for their passion and leadership within Local Government and we pay tribute to Councillor Karen McKeown for her continued support of Women in this sector .

Councillor Karen McKeown has served on Penrith City Council since 2004, serving as Deputy Mayor in 2006 and 2007. Clr McKeown has also recently been elected to the Executive of the Local Government Association of NSW.

Councillor Karen McKeown was nominated for her ongoing support of council and her community through her passion and commitment to environmental sustainability, particularly climate change. Karen has been Penrith City Council's Sustainability Champion since 2005 and represented Council at a United Nations Climate Change Conference in Bali in 2007.

Councillor Karen McKeown is acknowledged as being a key driver in establishing programs in Council and the City to promote sustainability, including the Sustainable Penrith Action Plan, the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives Water Campaign, the Energy and Water Savings Action Plans and integrated sustainability indicators to measure outcomes in both the City and the Council.

Clr McKeown was nominated for displaying inspirational leadership through her passion for delivering outcomes such as her commitment to the Mayors' Asia Pacific Environmental Summit held in Melbourne in 2006 which drives Council's initiatives on energy and green events.

Together with her focus on climate change, Clr McKeown was also nominated for being a strong advocate for social justice, playing an active role in the Blue Mountains/Nepean Interagency Taskforce on Homelessness and the Greater Western Sydney Regional Homelessness Committee. She actively pursues Council's policies on affordable housing and community development activities such as Penrith City's Neighbourhood Action Plans.

Clr McKeown's contribution to the participation of women in local government is well known - she is currently in her second term as President of ALGWA NSW, having served on the Executive since 2004. She is a strong advocate for women and passionate about increasing the level of representation by women in local government, in elected and senior staff roles. Clr McKeown is also a member of the NSW Joint Ministerial Advisory Council for Women in Local Government. Clr McKeown has also played an active role in encouraging and fostering staff from Penrith City Council to become more involved in ALGWA.

ALGWA NSW City Vice President Councillor Julie Griffiths congratulates Clr McKeown. Cr Griffiths said "Karen is an outstanding leader, her commitment and holistic approach to achieving positive outcomes in local government in a wide range of areas to build a better local community should be applauded".

Cr Griffiths continued. "I like to congratulate all Award winners who are all dedicated to advancing women in local government".

Authorised by Clr Julie Griffiths – City Vice President
Australian Local Government Women's Association NSW Branch

ALGWA (NSW) calls for stronger outcome on Paid Parental Leave

Posted by Karen McKeown - Friday October 15, 2010

Cr Karen McKeown, President of the Australian Local Government Women‟s Association (ALGWA NSW) has called on the Local Government Shires Association (LGSA) to go further with proposed paid parental leave for NSW Local Government employees and implement 18 weeks paid maternity leave and two weeks paid paternity leave as a standard working condition for NSW Local Government employees.

Councillor Karen McKeown said, "Whilst ALGWA (NSW) notes the LGSA‟s proposed wage 'top-up' in the NSW Local Government Employees Award (which is close to being finalised), it does not go far enough for local government employees."

It is not correct to suggest that this proposal reflects an extension of the existing Award paid parental leave provisions from nine weeks to 18 weeks.

It does not. It is important for people to understand what is being proposed here – there are caveats in the proposal with potentially significant financial trade-offs involved.

What has been proposed is an optional wage 'top up' scheme, which aligns with new Federal legislation (the Fair Work Act 2009, the National Employment Standards and the new Paid Parental Leave Act 2010).

The wage 'top-up' scheme utilises the payments under the existing Federal Government‟s Paid Parental Leave legislation. The proposed Award allows for the payment of the shortfall between the Federal Minimum Wage and the employee's wage for a period of 18 weeks.

If a Council employee chooses this option, they forfeit the nine weeks maternity leave under the existing Award (that can currently be taken at half pay).

Many local government employees because of their income levels are legitimately entitled to access the Federal Government's Paid Parental leave payments (or the Baby Bonus and Part B of the Family Tax benefit) in addition to their existing employer provided paid maternity leave provisions.

"The reality is that under this scheme, many of the lower paid workers in Local Government (who are predominately women) could potentially be financially disadvantaged if they take the "wage top-up". Depending on their income level they may be financially better off if they take the existing nine-weeks maternity leave (at half pay for 18 weeks) and separately apply for payment under the Federal Government‟s Paid Parental Leave payments (or elect to continue to access the Baby Bonus and Part B of the Family Tax Benefit)."

"Quite clearly there needs to be a rigorous communication and education strategy accompanying this proposal, otherwise many lower paid local government employees risk being unwittingly and unfairly short-changed", said Councillor Karen McKeown.

"This outcome is a long way short of the unanimous direction given to the LGA Executive at the 2008 Broken Hill Local Government Association Conference which endorsed: the provision of 18 weeks paid maternity leave and 2 weeks paid paternity leave, as a standard condition for all NSW Local Government employees."

"If the LGA Executive is serious about positioning the NSW Local Government Sector as an Employer of Choice it should implement the unanimous decision of the 2008 Local Government Association Conference in Broken Hill in the NSW Local Government Employees Award today" said Councillor Karen McKeown.

Councillor McKeown noted that since that historic 2008 decision, a number of Councils have fully implemented the LGA Conference resolution for their employees. These Councils include: Ryde, Gosford, Wyong, City of Sydney, Ashfield, Leichhardt, Bankstown (18 weeks maternity leave and 2 weeks paternity leave).

Other Councils have increased paid parental leave provisions above the nine-week Award. These include: Penrith, Blacktown and Marrickville (14 weeks maternity leave and 2 weeks paternity leave), and Port Stephens, Wollongong and Hawkesbury (12 weeks maternity leave).

Councillor McKeown noted that the timing of this announcement was interesting given that the LGA Conference in Albury will be held in 6 weeks time and includes an election for the LGA Executive.

"It is fair to say that the LGA Executive has been slow to move on this issue. Now, in the shadow of an LGA Executive election, a proposal is announced that sounds good on paper, but closer inspection reveals it is not all that it appears to be", said Councillor McKeown.

"ALGWA (NSW) will continue to campaign strongly on this issue - we have been working hard since 2008 to get the LGSA to implement the will of the Conference in relation to increased paid parental leave provisions and it appears that there is still a long journey ahead."

"As a legacy initiative of the Year of Women in Local Government ALGWA (NSW) is calling on all NSW Councils to honour the 2008 LGA Conference commitment, and implement 18 weeks paid maternity leave and two weeks paid paternity leave as a standard working condition for their Council staff before the end of 2010", said Councillor Karen McKeown.

Media inquiries:
Cr Karen McKeown
President ALGWA (NSW)
0401 995 945
Cr Nicole Campbell
Convenor ALGWA (NSW) Paid Parental Leave Campaign
0402 132 669