Women stormed state elections this year, with a record number running for election in Queensland.
Zenadth Kes women say for them it was about their determination to bring together their communities – a skill they say is innate in them.
Across the Northern Peninsula Area (NPA), Torres Strait Island Regional Council (TSIRC) region and Torres Shire Council (TSC) region, a record 26 per cent of candidates were women.
Elsie Seriat made history as the first Kaurareg Traditional Owner to become Mayor in the councils 121-year history, as well as the second female ever.
Most of the region her shire covers is Kaurareg Country, and Ms Seriat said her people had been celebrating the milestone with her.
“It was always a burning desire for myself growing up and something that was instilled in me, to become a leader in my community,” she said.
“This gives me more opportunities to be able to be vocal for my people in this space.”
In 2016, when Vonda Malone became the first female mayor in the Torres Strait, she told NITV .
In 2020, NPARC would elect its first female mayor, Patricia Yusia.
Regina Turner lost the election, but she says just running was a win.
“I just want to esso them [for] giving me the courage to actually go ahead and put my name in the hat,” she said.
Ms Turner has years of experience and said women brought a different way of governance that returned togetherness in communities.
“Women are very inclusive, we're always thinking not just here in front of us, we're thinking of those behind us as well,” she said.
“They would bring that gathering.”
“We're movers and shakers as well so when something needs to be done, you make ‘em there one time.”
Though Ms Turner said it was a workshop, held five weeks out from elections, that inched her over the line in deciding to run.
14 women attended the Women In Election workshop on Waibene, Thursday island. Pic Supplied; Michelle Deshong.
Support for women in election
In March 2023, the federal government funded education and advocacy group, Women In Election, $5 million dollars over 5 years to support women in this space.
In November, they teamed up with the Torres Strait Regional Authority (TSRA), Turnstone Collective, the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation and Politics in Colour, to bring an election workshop to the Torres Strait.
Kuku Yalanji woman and consultant with Turnstone Collective, Michelle Deshong, said since she first started working with women in the Torres Strait 15 years ago, the ripple effect saw more women hired.
She said there were three things that often stopped women from running for politics.
“[Firstly,] for a lot of women, it's about competing priorities, caring responsibilities, and they often find themselves saying, ‘Oh, maybe not now, maybe in the future’,” she said.
“The second is about public life, and the conversations around the scrutiny, media, social media and how you manage that.
Michelle Deshong has been doing workshops in the Torres Strait for 15 years. Credit: Supplied
“Change the conversation to not see them as a deficit to going into politics, but [how it can] actually can be the strength of what you want to achieve in office.”
Ms Deshong said the last thing that often stopped women from running was the cost.
“We talk a lot around what levels of support are available for women, what's the reality,” she said.
Ms Deshong said the political environment was complex in the Torres Strait.
“It actually has, different layers of politics such as local, state and federal,” she said.
“More importantly, I think that one of the things that shines very strongly in the Torres Strait is the conversations around culture and religion.
“Those spaces can sometimes create elements of silence or places of silence for women.
“Part of unpacking this is saying, actually, these systems are created for everybody to participate in."
Island Stars Dance team welcomed the TSC’s new mayor at her swearing in ceremony. Credit: NITV: Carli Willis
Call for young people
Ms Turner said she will run for mayor again in the next election and hopes to see more young women put their hat in the ring.
“This year, 2024, there was so many women that ran – [they] want to see change in the community,” she said.
“I think that platform, it one-time put fire in the belly of our women”
Ms Seriat was also the youngest female to ever win the top job at TSC. She said young people have a different lens through which they see.
“It's always important for young people to put their hands up because we have the older generation amongst us that have already been there,” she said.
“They could give us [what’s known] in our language as ‘wakai waian’ – give us advice on this journey together with them,” she said.
“We're coming in young, we're coming in new, we come in and fresh to, respectfully, see how we can get things done for our community.”
