The message which should have been sheeted home loud and clear in the past week is if you cannot act like a grown-up around women then scuttle back under the rock you have been hiding under for decades and stay there.
Cr Skelt’s resignation came hard on the heels of that of the National Party’s Taieri candidate Stephen Jack. His own goal involved social media sharing of a demeaning joke about women and a poem comparing former prime minister Jacinda Ardern to Hitler. Although he bit the bullet and resigned, he still didn’t get it, accusing the media of woke stupidity and character assassination.
The now former councillor Skelt at least had the nous to be more circumspect with his departure, prompted by the revelations of his abysmal treatment of a young woman employee when he was manager of ILT Stadium Southland. The teenager’s bravery in calling out his behaviour is to be commended. We hope in her future endeavours she never encounters such behaviour again.
The whole process which followed her resignation cannot have been easy for her and her family. And it will not be over yet since there is to be an independent inquiry into the way this was handled.
Although Cr Skelt, the highest polling candidate at the recent council elections, was not required to resign as councillor, it was clear other councillors were not happy with him staying on, and one, Ria Bond, threatened to resign should he continue.
Coverage in the wake of that, revealed Cr Alex Crackett, now in her third term on the council, had endured an infantile nickname related to her breasts as well as being belittled by a fellow male councillor referring to her in public as his lovely assistant.
A fellow councillor Peter Kett, who also did not want Cr Skelt to continue on the council, proffered the view women attracting comments about their bodies was just part of life. Further, that if he were a woman receiving such comments, he would probably take them as a compliment.
"I’d probably think, ‘oh that’s nice, they’ve taken notice of me’."
He has since had the grace to reflect on this and issue a comprehensive apology.
He said you are never too old to learn something new, urging all men reading his apology to have a think about the way they treat women.
Such events appal both women and the many men who have long since moved on from this sort of thinking.
Cr Bond has suggested the council consider holding a workshop on what is appropriate workplace behaviour and what is not.
While we might cringe at the need for this, maybe it is necessary. It could also remind councillors it is almost 130 years since the first woman mayor was elected in New Zealand, and their presence around the council table is not a threatening novelty.
The fact councillors, both men and women, attract considerable vitriol online from members of the public, and that this can spill out into unpleasant encounters in public settings has been well traversed. However, what is less clear is how much harassment councillors may be subjected to by their peers.
It may be time to explore, as Cr Crackett suggests, a simple and safe way for councillors throughout the country to raise concerns about harassment such as hers and have them dealt with quickly.
She indicated invoking the full bells and whistles of the code of conduct in such instances was off-putting in this type of complaint, particularly for a new councillor challenging an established counterpart.
Invercargill is heading for a by-election. We hope now the spotlight has been shone on sexism in the council, women candidates will be emboldened, not deterred.
