Women make up half the Australian population but only a third of the politicians elected to represent us. There’s only one way to redress the balance: more of us need to run for office. We asked female politicians for advice on getting in the game – and why they want to see your name on a ballot.
The Independents
JESS MILLER, 33
Deputy Lord Mayor, City of Sydney, Clover Moore Independent Team
“If you’d asked me when I was growing up what I wanted to do, ‘politician’ is the last thing I would have said. But I decided to run for council in 2016. I was right down at the bottom of the ticket and did not expect to be elected. Winning a seat was a massive surprise but an honour I take very seriously and an extraordinary opportunity to make change.”
JESS SCULLY, 37
Councillor, City of Sydney, Clover Moore Independent Team
“The key to con dence is appreciating that diverse life experience is an advantage, that your perspective is unique and that you can add value to a conversation or project if you approach it generously, open to learning. Also, people are so much kinder and more supportive than those critical voices in your head might be!”
