An online celebration of trailblazing women who have broken through barriers in federal parliament and beyond
The
Exhibition
In 1902 Australia became the first country in the world to give full political rights to white women. Despite this promising start, it was another 41 years before a woman was finally elected to the federal parliament.
It would take 108 years for a woman to become prime minister, and the country is still waiting for full gender equality in the parliament. The women who broke through the barriers facing them took on roles traditionally filled by men, and they did them well. They became senators, ministers, cabinet members, ministers of departments, took on executive positions within the chambers and even, finally, became prime minister. They proved their talent and ability and showed that women in parliament are not a novelty, but a necessity.
Breaking Through: 75 years of women in parliament is an onsite exhibition at the Museum of Australian Democracy, featuring portraits of federal politicians created by illustration students from TAFE NSW.
Breaking Through online is an ongoing celebration of trailblazing women who have broken through barriers in their fields, in federal parliament and beyond.
Dorothy Tangney and Enid Lyons
walk through the doors of Parliament
House in 1943 as its first female
politicians
Photo: Australian War Memorial
...there is a positive side to [being a female in Parliament]. ...the delight of doing something for the first time... of making ripples which go on enlivening your society for decades.Susan Ryan
Timeline
First female political candidate in Australia
Catherine Helen Spence
Women granted full political rights in Australia
Four women candidates run for federal parliament
None are successful.
First international women’s day
Edith Cowan elected to the WA Legislative Assembly
Dorothy Tangney and Enid Lyons elected to Federal Parliament
Annabelle Rankin appointed Opposition whip in the Senate
Enid Lyons first woman to hold Cabinet rank
Annabelle Rankin becomes Government Whip
Aboriginal women given the vote
Senator Annabelle Rankin appointed Minister for Housing
Becoming the first woman to administer a government department.
Ban on employment of married women by Commonwealth Public Service abolished
First childcare survey to determine arrangements made by mothers in paid employment
Senator Margaret Guilfoyle becomes first female Senator
to hold cabinet office and portfolio responsibilities (Minister for Education and Minister for Social Security).
First all-woman Senate committee
Sen. Susan Ryan becomes the first Labor woman federal minister
Sex Discrimination Act introduced
Senator Janine Haines becomes first woman to lead an Australian political party
(Australian Democrats)
Joan Child elected the first woman to be Speaker of the House of Representatives
Senator Janet Powell becomes the second woman to lead the Australian Democrats
Sen. Margaret Reid becomes the first woman president of the Senate
39 women elected to House of Representatives, 16 women elected to Senate
Total of 55 women elected to Parliament.
Ms Jenny Macklin MP elected as Deputy Leader of the Australian Labor Party
Julia Gillard becomes Deputy Prime Minister
Dame Quentin Bryce becomes first female Governor-General of Australia
Julia Gillard becomes Prime Minister
37 woman elected to the House of Representatives, 30 elected to the Senate
Total of 67 women.
Nova Peris first Aboriginal woman elected to Parliament
Linda Burney first Aboriginal woman elected to House of Representatives
1897
1902
1903
1911
1921
1943
1947
1949
1951
1962
1966
1966
1969
1975
1982
1983
1983
1986
1986
1990
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2001
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2007
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2010
2010
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2021