Male councillors are more likely to claim childcare expenses than their female counterparts, Hobsons Bay council has heard.
The council recently revised its family care policy to enable councillors to claim childcare expenses at current market rates rather than the set rate used until now.
Cr Angela Altair said the family care policy was introduced in 2004 to support newly elected female councillors and help women with young families have equal access to civic roles.
But Cr Paul Morgan said the policy was now being used more by male than female councillors.
In the past year, Cr Jason Price has been the only councillor to claim childcare costs.
He claimed expenses to care for his child during more than 40 meetings over the past year, totalling about $9600.
Cr Morgan has a 17-month-old daughter with another baby due in October. He said the policy would enable him to take part in all council meetings and briefings each week.
“I think it’s just important to maybe set the record a little bit straight here … it’s probably more likely the male councillors will use the childcare service than the female councillors,” Cr Morgan said.
“Having a young family … is quite challenging.”
