This year’s theme for International Women’s Day could not be more relevant for Brisbane’s only female candidate for Lord Mayor, Tracey Price.
“Inspire Inclusion” is the tagline for 2024, focusing on inspiring others to understand and value women’s inclusion, stating that when women themselves are inspired to be included, there’s a sense of belonging, relevance, and empowerment.
Standing up on the first week of early voting for the Brisbane City Council elections, Tracey Price praised her strong team of Labor representatives, more than half of which are women.
“Not only are Brisbane residents beginning to vote in what will be a decade-defining Brisbane City Council election, it’s also Queensland Women’s Week and Friday is International Women’s Day,” Mrs Price said.
“I am proud to have amazing women candidates in our team – each one of them is a superhero.”
“They are mothers, small business owners, educators, lawyers, community advocates and leaders,” she said. “And they will make exceptional representatives of their communities in City Hall.”
Brisbane Labor is offering representatives for each of the 26 wards plus Tracey Price for the top job, and 15 of those are women.
See the full list of Brisbane Labor’s women candidates and councillors below:
Tracey Price – Labor Candidate for Lord Mayor
Tracey is a successful small business owner, a lawyer, and qualified mediator.
Tracey has experience in the community, running a sewing centre business, and a family law firm, in Brisbane over the past 10 years.
Tracey and her husband have 3 children and live on Brisbane’s Northside.
Tracey has a vision for Brisbane: more affordable housing, better and cheaper public transport and a focus on reducing the cost of living for every Brisbane resident.
Tracey is a strong leader who listens. Her leadership style is listen, then act. She believes when people give each other respect and work together great things can happen.
Tracey is a passionate community activist, she has volunteered her time supporting domestic and family violence charities, women’s shelters, disability advocacy groups and her local school community. She jumps in and uses her skills to help those who need it in our community.
Lucy Collier – Councillor for Morningside Ward and Deputy Leader of the Opposition
Lucy is a 4171 local who grew up in Hawthorne and now lives in Bulimba with her husband Matt and daughter Maisy. She is passionate about the local community, having been the past President of the Bulimba Community Centre, helped run the I Love Bulimba and 4171 community Facebook group, Secretary of the Morningside 1 Camp Seven Neighbourhood Watch and been the volunteer co-ordinator for local ANZAC Day services for many years.
Lucy will always work hard to ensure that the local community gets the possible outcomes. She is someone who understands what it means to be local and will fight to protect the beautiful Morningside Ward community.
Emily Kim – Labor Candidate for Calamvale
Emily is a true Calamvale local, born and raised in our local area and now living just five minutes down the road from her family home.
Emily grew up volunteering for her local Church and continues her proud association with community, volunteering as a member of the Calamvale Lions. Emily’s love for her local community also inspired her to work with Members of State Parliament Duncan Pegg and James Martin.
Emily has a positive plan to move us forward; she will support our growing suburbs. Throughout the years, Emily has worked with local community groups to deliver real outcomes for the area, including fighting for a bus stop for retirees at Stretton Gardens and campaigning with Parkinson locals for better traffic calming measures after they were ignored by their local LNP Councillor.
As a proud Queenslander, Emily represented our great state at the National Powerlifting Championships. From swimming at AJ’s Sports Centre to walking to Healthworks, Emily knows the legacy that good services in Calamvale can provide for our children and hopes to see a future Olympian from our area.
Sarah Whitmee – Councillor for Wynnum Manly
Growing up in social housing, Sara has faced various challenges that have influenced her to become the person she is today. From real estate agent to organiser, and now as a mother and councillor, Sara says she’s learnt that with hard work and perseverance, you can accomplish anything.
Sara aims to inspire young people to break through the social barriers to achieve their dreams. As a local mother, Sara is passionate about making local roads safer for children to travel and school and play. She believes that with better infrastructure and access to public transport to ease mobility, residents and maintain a strong connection. She is committed to doing everything she can to bring about change for the better.
Tabatha Young – Labor Candidate for Chandler
Tabatha is a true Bayside local, having lived in Manly West for 20 years where she is now raising her daughter.
Tabatha understands the challenges that families can face and knows the importance of investing in local services.
As an active community member, she knows the issues and fights for them. Tabatha will focus on the basic needs such as footpaths and roads to reliable and inclusive public transport.
Alicia Weiderman – Labor Candidate for Coorparoo
Alicia is a Coorparoo local. Living, working and raising her family here, she is committed to seeing the community thrive.
As a business owner of nearly 10 years, and with over a decade working in Government and philanthropic sectors before that, Alicia knows that positive results are the product of sharing, connecting and advocating.
Active in the local community, Alicia volunteers as a member of her school P&C, and as co-convener of the Greenslopes Reconciliation Action Group. Alicia also led the recent Yes23 campaign across the area, working with over 200 volunteers to support positive conversations on First Nations issues. Dedicated to seeing more women engage leadership roles, Alicia also Founder and Chair of Women in Employment Services, a group focused on building relationships and network between women.
Alicia knows the impact local government has on the lives of residents every day. Neighbourhoods across Coorparoo, Stones Corner, Greenslopes, Camp Hill, Woolloongabba and East Brisbane are growing and changing. Now more than ever, residents need a local voice in City Hall to advocate for a connected and thriving community; a place for all. Residents of Coorparoo ward have been neglected for too long, and they are not getting the basic services and support they are due. Alicia will work hard every day to deliver this, and more. Coorparoo deserves a councillor that will work with them to fulfil their vision for the future.
Taylar Wojtasik – Labor Candidate for Enoggera
Working across the legal and hospitality industries for my working life, Taylar has worked with people from all walks of life and has enjoyed meeting and getting to know them. She has volunteered for a post Domestic and Family Violence hub, assisting women with understanding court processes, where to find information and helping them find advocates.
Taylar has always held a strong interest in advocating for those who don’t always have the means to do it themselves, which is why she has decided to run for Brisbane City Council. She has the determination to fight for the Enoggera ward, ensuring residents are listened to and work with them to provide a strong voice in City Hall.
She grew up with parents who did the best they could on trade apprentice wages, and started working from an early age in her father’s business, eventually moving into the hospitality industry to help ease the cost of living for her family. Taylar understands that times have become tough and she wants to lend her voice to the Enoggera ward to fight for what the residents deserve.
Leah Malzard – Labor Candidate for Hamilton
Leah Malzard is an Early Childhood Educator with 35 years in the sector and a passionate educator advocating for our youngest citizens and her colleagues alike.
She has been a Hamilton local for the past 6 years and works locally. She has previously stood for our local community in the 2020 Brisbane City Council elections.
Leah is not a professional politician, just a hard working local passionate about public transport and better footpaths for our community.
She’s also passionate about ensuring better investment in housing and shelters for survivors of domestic and family violence.
She is committed to representing her community with the utmost honesty and integrity.
Leili Golafshani – Labor Candidate for Jamboree
Leili’s vision for Jamboree Ward is a community that is more connected and accessible for everybody.
This includes initiatives like bringing local manufacturing of Brisbane City Council buses back to Brisbane and advocating for reliable and sustainable public transport options. She is committed to revitalising our local parks and playgrounds, making them safe, vibrant, and inviting spaces for families and individuals.
Leili is dedicated to representing the diverse voices of our community and working tirelessly to ensure that our city council serves the interests of all residents. Together, we can build a stronger and more inclusive future for our electorate.
Ashwina Gotame – Labor Candidate for MacGregor
Ashwina is a passionate community activist, an accomplished educator and a corporate professional who loves living on Brisbane’s vibrant multicultural Southside with her family.
Ashwina’s vision for MacGregor Ward is a caring multicultural community that works together to support every part of our beautiful and diverse population. She understands that when people show respect for one another and work together, great things can be achieved.
Like many children of migrants and working people, Ashwina’s family taught her the value of hard work and education. This led Ashwina to pursue a career in teaching, so she could pass on her experiences.
Ashwina is dedicated to making everyone feel a part of our beautiful MacGregor community, celebrating every individual and unique part of our lively and exciting suburb.
Ashwina will make a difference by standing up for MacGregor, being a strong voice for residents who knows the issues and fights for them. She will advocate for better local services, better infrastructure, and better public spaces for our community
Vicki Ryan – Labor Candidate for Northgate
Vicki Ryan has a strong track record as a committed supporter of her local community.
She has always lived in Northgate Ward, where she is raising her young family with her husband Daniel.
Her commitment as a long term community volunteer has included work for various school, community and sporting clubs, including president of the St Pius School P&F at Banyo, treasurer of the Banyo and District Community Committee and president of the Junior Committee of the Toombul District Cricket Club.
Vicki believes the LNP Council has the wrong priorities when it comes to spending ratepayers’ hard-earned cash.
She says the Council’s budget documents show that $1.3b is taken out of residents’ pockets in rates and utility charges each year…that’s an average of $6.9m per suburb. If Vicki is elected, her goal will be to make sure Northgate Ward residents get a fair share of those millions spent on local roads, parks, footpaths, bushland, bikeways and community and sporting clubs.
Sún Etheridge – Labor Candidate for Paddington
Raised in Brisbane’s western suburbs, Sún first moved to Paddington in 1996 and is now raising her family in beautiful Paddington Ward. She has spent the last seven years standing up for nurses, midwives and care workers, and knows people can achieve real change when they work together. Sún has also worked in media, so knows how to advocate for communities and communicate about what we need.
Community values matter to Sún, and she is an active volunteer in local and environment groups, including serving as Vice President of the Petrie Terrace State School Parents and Citizens Association.
As a parent juggling work and family, Sún believes the LNP Council is out of touch with thousands of families just like hers in Paddington Ward. Cost of living is soaring, local families are being priced out of their homes, local roads are more congested by the day – yet the LNP Council is investing in advertising and developing bushland rather than listening to residents and improving their lives.
Sún is committed to advocating for the people of Paddington Ward, and knows we need cost of living relief, housing support, transport connectivity and a Council that is in the fight against climate change.
Roberta Albrecht – Labor Candidate for Pullenvale
Roberta has over 20 years’ experience working in the finance sector specialising in Superannuation. She has spent her career educating and advocating for workers and their financial futures.
Roberta lives in Kenmore and has volunteered in positions working with industry networking groups, such as Deputy Chair of Women in Super (Qld) and as Secretary of Women in Contracting.
Roberta is passionate about her community and knows the impact Local Government has on her neighbourhood. Now more than ever we need a Councillor who will stand up for the suburbs rather than just the interests of the Schrinner Council.
Residents of Pullenvale have been neglected for too long and they are not getting the basic services and support they are due. Roberta is committed to being a consultative and inclusive Councillor, who will stand up for her community. Roberta will fight for better local services, better infrastructure, and public spaces for our community.
Bec Mac – Labor Candidate for The Gabba
Bec Mac is part of the fabric of West End. She is a vibrant and collaborative broadcaster and small business owner with an unwavering passion for uniting communities through art and activism.
Bec is a positive and creative force with the business background to make a difference in The Gabba Ward, and fight for the people who live and work in our community.
She founded POPSART, a revolutionary digital arts media platform which connects local arts with esteemed institutions; and co-founded the Chrysalis Projects which brought art to public spaces in West End and created employment opportunities for local artists.
Bec’s commitment to advocacy shines in her involvement in important projects including the 2017 Senate Inquiry into Fake Aboriginal Art, collaborating with First Nations artist Richard Bell on his Venice Biennale 2019 project, and leading the Arts Against Gender-Based Violence initiative in partnership with Micah Projects. She has also initiated projects centred around disability and caring, including documenting stories of lived experiences for the Brisbane Zero Campaign against Homelessness in 2022.
The pressures on the inner-city southern suburbs are undeniable – housing, congestion, and poor community services are just a few. This region needs a balanced, committed, and positive influence to ensure a lasting legacy in terms of community, equity, art, and environment.
Bec wants to see a world-class urban development plan that strikes a balance between city growth, liveability, and community well-being, including rewilding initiatives.
Bec Mac is committed to creating a more vibrant, inclusive, and united community for everyone.
Rebecca Hack – Labor Candidate for Walter Taylor
Rebecca is a Toowong local, with her partner and their dog Pickles. She is passionate about her community. Rebecca is a lifetime teacher and education leader and always gives back to others. She is a dedicated volunteer in our local community and is always working to support others. She has previously owned a busy small business and is currently the Chair of her Body Corporate Committee. Rebecca spent countless hours supporting her neighbours through the 2022 floods which ripped through her building. Rebecca knows first-hand how long and hard it was to recover from this event and that we need a Council committed to delivering a climate-resilient city.
Rebecca has always been active in advocating for others and has never been afraid to speak up for what is right. Rebecca believes in the power of community and understands we are all stronger when we work together and support each other.
