Sydney has made LGBTQ+ history, with Councillor Olly Arkins becoming the City of Sydney’s first openly transgender Deputy Lord Mayor.
Arkins was elected to the role by fellow councillors on 21 September, less than two years after first winning a seat on the City of Sydney Council in 2024.
She was the only nominee for Deputy Lord Mayor and will serve in the position until 30 September 2027, working alongside longtime Lord Mayor Clover Moore.
For Sydney’s LGBTQ+ community, Arkins’ appointment marks another significant step forward for trans representation in Australian local government.
But Arkins has made clear that her priorities extend well beyond representation alone.
“I ran for Council because I have lived in Sydney at its best; fun, welcoming, diverse and affordable,” she said following her appointment.
“I have also lived it at its worst; lockout laws, eye-watering rents and policing policies that attempted to put music festivals out of business.”
Housing, Nightlife And Better Council Services
Since entering council, Arkins has focused heavily on affordable housing, nightlife and how council services are delivered.
She has advocated for Special Entertainment Precincts designed to support live music, performance and late-night businesses across Sydney.
Those precincts can make it easier for venues and businesses to trade later and host entertainment while creating clearer rules around sound and operating hours.
Arkins has also pushed for modernised council services, including easier digital parking payments, and stronger scrutiny of council services outsourced to private contractors.
Affordable housing has remained another major focus, particularly in areas such as Waterloo.
Her priorities as Deputy Lord Mayor include continuing that work, supporting Sydney’s creative industries and helping community radio station FBi Radio secure a permanent home.
Supporting Sydney’s LGBTQ+ Communities
Arkins has also used her council role to advocate for Sydney’s LGBTQ+ businesses and cultural spaces.
Earlier this year, she moved a successful council motion recognising the contribution of LGBTQIA+-owned and inclusive businesses to the city’s social, cultural and economic life.
The motion highlighted the importance of neighbourhoods including Oxford Street and King Street as hubs for queer culture and nightlife.
Arkins has also supported initiatives aimed at strengthening LGBTQ+ services and community infrastructure.
Her appointment comes at a time when Sydney continues to grapple with how to protect the queer cultural identity of neighbourhoods shaped by rising rents, redevelopment and changes to nightlife.
Having an openly trans woman in one of the council’s most senior positions gives that community a particularly visible seat at the table.
A Career Built Around Culture And Community
Before entering local government, Arkins trained as a nurse and worked across cultural policy, music, festivals and government.
That background has carried into her work at City Hall.
She is currently Deputy Chair of the Cultural, Creative and Nightlife Committee and has been closely involved with Sydney’s nightlife and creative industries policy.
She has also advocated for longer library opening hours during exam periods, greater support for young people and policies designed to make Sydney more affordable and liveable.
For Arkins, the goal is to maintain Sydney’s status as a global city without losing the communities and cultures that give it character.
“We can take our place as a global city, while deeply respecting our history — particularly that of First Nations people, whose culture should be at the forefront of how we set policy,” she said.
“I’m ready to get to work on making Sydney a city that’s easy and enjoyable to live in, and one people around the world are desperate to visit.”
More Than A Symbolic First
Arkins’ elevation is undoubtedly significant for trans visibility.
At a time when trans people are frequently discussed in Australian politics as the subject of policy debates, seeing a trans woman exercising political authority rather than simply being talked about carries its own weight.
But the significance of the appointment is also in what comes next.
Arkins will now help shape policy on housing, nightlife, council services, cultural life and the future direction of one of Australia’s largest cities.
Representation matters.
So does having the power to make decisions.
