Politics & Council
30 November, 2023
'Care factor' pushes back meeting time
LODDON Shire councillors will not meet before 10am next year to “enable those with care responsibilities to meet their morning care obligations”. Cr Linda Jungwirth said the change would have council demonstrating flexibility, adaptibility and...
LODDON Shire councillors will not meet before 10am next year to “enable those with care responsibilities to meet their morning care obligations”.
Cr Linda Jungwirth said the change would have council demonstrating flexibility, adaptibility and inclusion with opportunity for greater diversity of people participating in council.
“As a single parent of teenagers, one with cognitive disability, the current meeting time of 8.30(am) for forums negatively impacts me, my children and can cost the council money in care,” she said.
Cr Jungwirth’s push was supported by Cr Wendy Murphy with Cr Neil Beattie voting against the the amendment to a 2024 meeting schedule recommended by officers. Cr Dan Straub abstained.
Last week, Cr Jungwirth signalled a push to change values of council after she failed to have Cr Murphy elected mayor.
Cr Gavan Holt had told councillors before the vote that saw him take the top role for a seventh time that wokeism had infected the western world and “we need to ensure the virus does not get hold in the leadership of Loddon Shire Council”.
Cr Jungwirth has since used her councillor social media page to post a 10 Symptons of the Woke Mind graphic, including that woke people “read books and don’t burn them”.