Labor senator Kristina Keneally believes the coronavirus pandemic will see women rise to power in the City of Wollongong and give the economy the kick start it needs.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
While meeting Labor's lord mayoral candidate for Wollongong Tania Brown at Wollongong Harbour yesterday, the former NSW premier said the COVID crisis had given women the chance to come back stronger, more resilient and self-reliant.
"Women across New South Wales have been getting things done, particularly during the pandemic," she said.
"The pandemic also taught them about the importance of their local community and they had time to take a good look at the parks and community facilities around them.
"We will use this movement and knowledge in the coming years to build better communities.
"After 10 years this region needs new leadership to kick-start the local economy and create jobs."
Senator Keneally said she would be "stoked" to see Cr Brown as the first female lord mayor in Wollongong because she would fight to make Wollongong the best place to live, work and raise a family.
She said Cr Brown's passion for the community was highlighted a decade ago when the pair joined forces to get a new LED scoreboards and screens installed at WIN Entertainment Centre for Wollongong Hawks home games.
"It's just one illustration of how Tania is a woman who knows how to get things done," she said.
"She is a local through and through, she was raised here and has a genuine passion for Wollongong and the community.
"This city has never had a female lord mayor and that needs to change.
"She knows what it takes to do the job - that's what Wollongong needs."
Cr Brown said she was delighted to have such a trailblazer of Australian politics visiting to support her campaign in the lead-up to the election on December 4.
Cr Brown also discussed her plans to spend $1 million building women's change rooms at ageing sports fields if elected, to support the growing sporting population.
"Kristina Keneally inspired thousands of women and young girls when she became the first female premier of NSW," Cr Brown said.
"After 10 years, it's time for change in Wollongong, and well past time for 50 per cent of the population to be represented in local government.
"I want other families to have the same opportunities I had growing up in Wollongong - and that starts by investing in our suburbs."
