Women in the Australian Senate

There have been 122 women in the Australian Senate since the establishment of the Parliament of Australia. Women have had the right to stand for federal parliament since 1902, and there were three female candidates for the Senate at the 1903 federal election (Vida Goldstein, Nellie Martel, and Mary Moore-Bentley). However, it was not until Dorothy Tangney's victory at the 1943 federal election that a woman was elected. Since then, all states and territories have had multiple female senators – in chronological order: Western Australia (1943), Queensland (1947), Victoria (1950), South Australia (1955), Tasmania (1975), the Australian Capital Territory (1975), New South Wales (1987), and the Northern Territory (1998).

## History

[edit]

Dame Dorothy Tangney, the first woman in the Australian Senate

The passage of the Commonwealth Franchise Act allowed women to both vote and stand for election to the Parliament of Australia.[1][2] Three women stood unsuccessfully as independents or as representatives of minor parties for election to the Senate for the 1903 election. Nellie Martel and Mary Ann Moore-Bentley of New South Wales ran, each earning around 18,000 votes, with the leading man winning roughly 190,000 votes.[3] Vida Goldstein, from Victoria, ran and gained 51,497 votes, which was roughly half the votes the winning man gained.[3] She then ran unsuccessfully again in 1910 and 1917 after a short stint attempting to breakthrough into the House of Representatives.[3] In 1919, Mary McMahon of NSW ran unsuccessfully, and was not followed by another woman candidate until 1934 saw Lillie Beirne (NSW) and Joanna Helbach (QLD) run.[3] Following this, Jeanne Young of Western Australia ran in 1937 and Adela Walsh (NSW) and Dorothy Tangney (WA) ran in 1940.[3] However, women were not successful in entering federal politics until World War II. The major parties did not endorse any female candidates for the Senate before the War.

The first woman to be elected to the Senate was Labor representative Dorothy Tangney in 1943; she represented Western Australia.[3] Following Tangney's entry into politics, the Senate has continuously had women members. However, despite the success, the number of women running continued to fluctuate drastically. Prior to 1981, the proportion of women running as candidates peaked at 20% in 1977 but had a low of only 1.3% in 1953.[4] Between the years 1943 and 1969, there were only five elections of women and Enid Lyons accounted for three of these in the House of Representatives.[5] Despite this, 41 women were elected into the Senate between 1943 and 1980.[4] The proportion of women in the Senate can be seen over a long time period to have drastically grown, with the 1948 Senate being composed of 5.6% women, 14.1% in 1980, 23.7% in 1990, 28.9% in 2002, and 53% in 2021.[6]

The second woman elected to the Senate, Annabelle Rankin, also achieved a number of firsts for women: she was the first female Whip, and she was the first woman with a federal portfolio when she became Minister for Housing in 1966. In 1975, Margaret Guilfoyle became the first female cabinet minister with a portfolio. In 1996 Margaret Reid was the first woman elected as President of the Senate.[7]

Women in the Senate have made significant changes to Australian law which have benefited women. For example, a private member's bill written by Senator Susan Ryan was crucial to the development of the Sex Discrimination Act 1984, the Affirmative Action (Equal Employment Opportunity for Women) Act 1986, the Public Service Reform Act 1984 and the Equal Employment Opportunity (Commonwealth Authorities) Act 1987.

With the appointment of Sarah Henderson to the Senate on 11 September 2019, the number of women in the chamber was equal to the number of men for the first time in history.[8] With the resignation of Richard Di Natale and the appointment of Lidia Thorpe on 4 September 2020, the number of women (39) exceeded the number of men (37) for the first time.

## List of women in the Australian Senate

[edit]

Names in bold type indicate Ministers and Parliamentary Secretaries. Names in italics indicate appointments made under section 15 of the Constitution, or through disqualification. Names marked with an asterisk (*) also served in the House of Representatives. Where no closing date is shown, the Senator's term of service is unexpired.

#  | Name  | Party  | State  | Period of service  | How ended

|
|
|
|
|

1  | (Dame) Dorothy Tangney | Labor | WA | 21 August 1943 – 30 June 1968  | defeated
2  | (Dame) Annabelle Rankin | Liberal | Qld | 1 July 1947 – 24 April 1971  | resigned
3  | Agnes Robertson | Liberal / Country | WA  | 22 February 1950 – 30 June 1962  | retired
(Dame) Ivy Wedgwood | Liberal  | Vic | 22 February 1950 – 30 June 1971  | retired
5  | (Dame) Nancy Buttfield | Liberal  | SA | 11 October 1955 – 30 June 1965
1 July 1968 – 11 April 1974  | defeated
retired
6  | Marie Breen | Liberal  | Vic  | 1 July 1962 – 30 June 1968  | retired
7  | (Dame) Margaret Guilfoyle | Liberal  | Vic  | 1 July 1971 – 5 June 1987  | retired
8  | Ruth Coleman | Labor  | WA  | 18 May 1974 – 5 June 1987  | retired
Jean Melzer | Labor  | Vic  | 18 May 1974 – 30 June 1981  | defeated
Kathy Sullivan*  | Liberal  | Qld  | 18 May 1974 – 5 November 1984  | resigned
11  | Susan Ryan | Labor  | ACT | 13 December 1975 – 29 January 1988  | resigned
Shirley Walters | Liberal  | Tas | 13 December 1975 – 30 June 1993  | retired
13  | Janine Haines | Democrats | SA  | 14 December 1977 – 30 June 1978
1 July 1981 – 1 March 1990  | retired
resigned
14  | Jean Hearn | Labor  | Tas  | 15 October 1980 – 30 June 1985  | retired
15  | Florence Bjelke-Petersen | NCP / National | Qld  | 12 March 1981 – 30 June 1993  | retired
16  | Margaret Reid | Liberal  | ACT  | 5 May 1981 – 14 February 2003  | resigned
17  | Patricia Giles | Labor  | WA  | 1 July 1981 – 30 June 1993  | retired
18  | Rosemary Crowley | Labor  | SA  | 5 March 1983 – 30 June 2002  | retired
Margaret Reynolds | Labor  | Qld  | 5 March 1983 – 30 June 1999  | retired
Olive Zakharov | Labor  | Vic  | 5 March 1983 – 6 March 1995  | died
21  | Sue Knowles | Liberal  | WA  | 1 December 1984 – 30 June 2005  | retired
Amanda Vanstone | Liberal  | SA  | 1 December 1984 – 26 April 2007  | resigned
23  | Jo Vallentine | NDP / Ind. / Greens WA | WA  | 1 July 1985 – 31 January 1992  | resigned
24  | Jocelyn Newman | Liberal  | Tas  | 13 March 1986 – 1 February 2002  | resigned
25  | Janet Powell | Democrats / Ind.  | Vic  | 26 August 1986 – 30 June 1993  | defeated
26  | Sue West | Labor  | NSW | 11 February 1987 – 5 June 1987
1 July 1990 – 30 June 2002  | defeated
retired
27  | Bronwyn Bishop*  | Liberal  | NSW  | 11 July 1987 – 24 February 1994  | resigned
Jean Jenkins | Democrats  | WA  | 11 July 1987 – 30 June 1990  | defeated
Kay Patterson | Liberal  | Vic  | 11 July 1987 – 30 June 2008  | retired
30  | Irina Dunn | NDP / Ind.  | NSW  | 21 July 1988 – 30 June 1990  | defeated
31  | Meg Lees | Democrats / APA | SA  | 4 April 1990 – 30 June 2005  | defeated
32  | Vicki Bourne | Democrats  | NSW  | 1 July 1990 – 30 June 2002  | defeated
Cheryl Kernot*  | Democrats  | Qld  | 1 July 1990 – 15 October 1997  | resigned
34  | Karin Sowada | Democrats  | NSW  | 29 August 1991 – 30 June 1993  | defeated
35  | Christabel Chamarette | Greens WA  | WA  | 12 March 1992 – 30 June 1996  | defeated
36  | Dee Margetts | Greens WA  | WA  | 1 July 1993 – 30 June 1999  | defeated
Judith Troeth | Liberal  | Vic  | 1 July 1993 – 30 June 2011  | retired
38  | Kay Denman | Labor  | Tas  | 24 August 1993 – 30 June 2005  | retired
39  | Belinda Neal*  | Labor  | NSW  | 8 March 1994 – 3 September 1998  | resigned
40  | Jacinta Collins | Labor  | Vic  | 3 May 1995 – 30 June 2005
8 May 2008 – 15 February 2019  | defeated
resigned
41  | Natasha Stott Despoja | Democrats  | SA  | 29 November 1995 – 30 June 2008  | retired
42  | Kate Lundy | Labor  | ACT  | 2 March 1996 – 24 March 2015  | resigned
43  | Sue Mackay | Labor  | Tas  | 8 March 1996 – 27 June 2005  | resigned
44  | Lyn Allison | Democrats  | Vic  | 1 July 1996 – 30 June 2008  | defeated
Helen Coonan | Liberal  | NSW  | 1 July 1996 – 22 August 2011  | resigned
Jeannie Ferris | Liberal  | SA  | 1 July 1996 – 2 April 2007  | died
Brenda Gibbs | Labor  | Qld  | 1 July 1996 – 30 June 2002  | defeated
48  | Marise Payne | Liberal  | NSW  | 9 April 1997 – 30 September 2023  | resigned
49  | Karen Synon | Liberal  | Vic  | 13 May 1997 – 30 June 1999  | defeated
50  | Trish Crossin | Labor  | NT | 16 June 1998 - 6 September 2013  | retired
51  | Jan McLucas | Labor  | Qld  | 1 July 1999 - 9 May 2016  | retired
52  | Linda Kirk | Labor  | SA  | 1 July 2002 – 30 June 2008  | retired
Claire Moore | Labor  | Qld  | 1 July 2002 - 30 June 2019  | retired
Kerry Nettle | Greens | NSW  | 1 July 2002 – 30 June 2008  | defeated
Ursula Stephens | Labor  | NSW  | 1 July 2002 - 30 June 2014  | defeated
Ruth Webber | Labor  | WA  | 1 July 2002 – 30 June 2008  | defeated
Penny Wong | Labor  | SA  | 1 July 2002 - |
58  | Concetta Fierravanti-Wells | Liberal  | NSW  | 5 May 2005 - 30 June 2022  | retired
59  | Judith Adams | Liberal  | WA  | 1 July 2005 – 31 March 2012  | died
Annette Hurley | Labor  | SA  | 1 July 2005 – 30 June 2011  | retired
Anne McEwen | Labor  | SA  | 1 July 2005 - 2 July 2016  | defeated
Christine Milne | Greens  | Tas  | 1 July 2005 - 10 August 2015  | resigned
Fiona Nash | National  | NSW  | 1 July 2005 - 27 October 2017  | election voided
Helen Polley | Labor  | Tas.  | 1 July 2005 - |
Rachel Siewert | Greens  | WA  | 1 July 2005 - 6 September 2021  | resigned
Dana Wortley | Labor  | SA  | 1 July 2005 – 30 June 2011  | defeated
67  | Carol Brown | Labor  | Tas.  | 25 August 2005 - |
68  | Sue Boyce | Liberal  | Qld  | 19 April 2007 - 30 June 2014  | retired
69  | Mary Jo Fisher | Liberal  | SA  | 6 June 2007 – 14 August 2012  | resigned
70  | Catryna Bilyk | Labor  | Tas.  | 1 July 2008 - |
Michaelia Cash | Liberal  | WA  | 1 July 2008 - |
Sarah Hanson-Young | Greens  | SA  | 1 July 2008 - |
Helen Kroger | Liberal  | Vic.  | 1 July 2008 - 30 June 2014  | defeated
Louise Pratt | Labor  | WA  | 1 July 2008 - 30 June 2014
2 July 2016 - | defeated
incumbent
75  | Bridget McKenzie | National  | Vic.  | 1 July 2011 - |
Lee Rhiannon | Greens  | NSW  | 1 July 2011 - 15 August 2018  | resigned
Lisa Singh | Labor  | Tas.  | 1 July 2011 - 30 June 2019  | defeated
Anne Urquhart | Labor  | Tas.  | 1 July 2011 - |
Larissa Waters | Greens  | Qld  | 1 July 2011 - 18 July 2017
6 September 2018 –  | resigned
incumbent
Penny Wright | Greens  | SA  | 1 July 2011 - 9 September 2015  | resigned
81  | Lin Thorp | Labor  | Tas  | 20 June 2012 - 30 June 2014  | defeated
82  | Anne Ruston | Liberal  | SA  | 5 September 2012 - |
83  | Sue Lines | Labor  | WA  | 15 May 2013 - |
84  | Nova Peris | Labor  | NT  | 7 September 2013 - 9 May 2016  | retired
85  | Deborah O'Neill*  | Labor  | NSW  | 13 November 2013 - |
86  | Jacqui Lambie | PUP / Ind. / JLN | Tas  | 1 July 2014 - 14 November 2017
1 July 2019 –  | resigned
incumbent
Linda Reynolds | Liberal  | WA  | 1 July 2014 - |
Janet Rice | Greens  | Vic  | 1 July 2014 - 19 April 2024  | resigned
89  | Katy Gallagher | Labor  | ACT  | 26 March 2015 - 9 May 2018
18 May 2019 - | resigned
incumbent
90  | Jenny McAllister | Labor  | NSW  | 6 May 2015 - |
91  | Joanna Lindgren | Liberal (LNP)  | Qld  | 21 May 2015 - 2 July 2016  | defeated
92  | Pauline Hanson*  | One Nation | Qld  | 2 July 2016 - |
Jane Hume | Liberal  | Vic.  | 2 July 2016 - |
Skye Kakoschke-Moore | NXT | SA  | 2 July 2016 - 22 November 2017  | resigned
Malarndirri McCarthy | Labor  | NT  | 2 July 2016 - |
96  | Kimberley Kitching | Labor  | Vic  | 25 October 2016 - 10 March 2022  | died
97  | Lucy Gichuhi | Family First / Ind. / Liberal  | SA  | 19 April 2017 - 30 June 2019  | defeated
98  | Kristina Keneally | Labor  | NSW  | 14 February 2018 - 13 April 2022  | resigned
99  | Amanda Stoker | Liberal (LNP)  | Qld  | 21 March 2018 - 30 June 2022  | defeated
100  | Mehreen Faruqi | Greens  | NSW  | 15 August 2018 - |
101  | Wendy Askew | Liberal  | Tas  | 6 March 2019 - |
102  | Sam McMahon | National (CLP)  | NT  | 18 May 2019 - 21 May 2022  | defeated
103  | Claire Chandler | Liberal  | Tas  | 1 July 2019 - |
Perin Davey | National  | NSW  | 1 July 2019 - |
Nita Green | Labor  | Qld  | 1 July 2019 - |
Hollie Hughes | Liberal  | NSW  | 1 July 2019 - |
Susan McDonald | National (LNP)  | Qld  | 1 July 2019 - |
Marielle Smith | Labor  | SA  | 1 July 2019 - |
Jess Walsh | Labor  | Vic  | 1 July 2019 - |
110  | Sarah Henderson*  | Liberal  | Vic  | 11 September 2019 - |
111  | Lidia Thorpe | Greens / Ind.  | Vic  | 4 September 2020 - |
112  | Dorinda Cox | Greens  | WA  | 14 September 2021 - |
113  | Karen Grogan | Labor  | SA  | 21 September 2021 - |
114  | Jana Stewart | Labor  | Vic  | 6 April 2022 - |
115  | Jacinta Nampijinpa Price | National (CLP)  | NT  | 21 May 2022 - |
116  | Penny Allman-Payne | Greens  | Qld  | 1 July 2022 - |
Kerrynne Liddle | Liberal  | SA  | 1 July 2022 - |
Fatima Payman | Labor / Ind.  | WA  | 1 July 2022 - |
Barbara Pocock | Greens  | SA  | 1 July 2022 - |
Tammy Tyrrell | Lambie / Ind.  | Tas  | 1 July 2022 - |
Linda White | Labor  | Vic  | 1 July 2022 - 29 February 2024  | died
122  | Maria Kovacic | Liberal  | NSW  | 31 May 2023 - |
123  | Steph Hodgins-May | Greens  | Vic  | 1 May 2024 - |
124  | Lisa Darmanin | Labor  | Vic  | 29 May 2024 - |

## Timeline

[edit]

## Proportion of women in the Senate

[edit]

Numbers and proportions are as they were directly after the beginning of Senate terms and do not take into account deaths, resignations, appointments, defections or other changes in membership. As senators typically serve six-year terms, in the absence of a double dissolution, the numbers of female senators overlap two "terms". State-based Coalition parties that caucus with one of the major parties (Liberal National Party, Country Liberal Party) have been included in the Liberals' or Nationals' totals.

Term  | Labor | Liberal | National | Democrats | Greens | Others  | Total

|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Women  | Total  | %  | Women  | Total  | %  | Women  | Total  | %  | Women  | Total  | %  | Women  | Total  | %  | Women  | Total  | %  | Women  | Total  | %
1944–1947  | 1 | 22 | 4.5%  | 0 | 12 | 0.0%  | 0 | 2 | 0.0%  | 0 | 0 | 0.0%  | 0 | 0 | 0.0%  | 0 | 0 | 0.0%  | 1 | 36 | 2.8%
1947–1950  | 1 | 33 | 3.0%  | 1 | 2 | 50.0%  | 0 | 1 | 0.0%  | 0 | 0 | 0.0%  | 0 | 0 | 0.0%  | 0 | 0 | 0.0%  | 2 | 36 | 5.6%
1950–1951  | 1 | 34 | 2.9%  | 3 | 21 | 14.3%  | 0 | 5 | 0.0%  | 0 | 0 | 0.0%  | 0 | 0 | 0.0%  | 0 | 0 | 0.0%  | 4 | 60 | 6.7%
1951–1953  | 1 | 28 | 3.6%  | 3 | 26 | 11.5%  | 0 | 6 | 0.0%  | 0 | 0 | 0.0%  | 0 | 0 | 0.0%  | 0 | 0 | 0.0%  | 4 | 60 | 6.7%
1953–1956  | 1 | 29 | 3.4%  | 3 | 26 | 11.5%  | 0 | 5 | 0.0%  | 0 | 0 | 0.0%  | 0 | 0 | 0.0%  | 0 | 0 | 0.0%  | 4 | 60 | 6.7%
1956–1959  | 1 | 28 | 3.6%  | 3 | 24 | 12.5%  | 1 | 6 | 16.7%  | 0 | 0 | 0.0%  | 0 | 0 | 0.0%  | 0 | 2 | 0.0%  | 5 | 60 | 8.3%
1959–1962  | 1 | 26 | 3.8%  | 3 | 25 | 12.0%  | 1 | 7 | 14.3%  | 0 | 0 | 0.0%  | 0 | 0 | 0.0%  | 0 | 2 | 0.0%  | 5 | 60 | 8.3%
1962–1965  | 1 | 28 | 3.6%  | 4 | 24 | 16.7%  | 0 | 6 | 0.0%  | 0 | 0 | 0.0%  | 0 | 0 | 0.0%  | 0 | 2 | 0.0%  | 5 | 60 | 8.3%
1965–1968  | 1 | 27 | 3.7%  | 3 | 23 | 13.0%  | 0 | 7 | 0.0%  | 0 | 0 | 0.0%  | 0 | 0 | 0.0%  | 0 | 3 | 0.0%  | 4 | 60 | 6.7%
1968–1971  | 0 | 27 | 0.0%  | 3 | 21 | 14.2%  | 0 | 7 | 0.0%  | 0 | 0 | 0.0%  | 0 | 0 | 0.0%  | 0 | 5 | 0.0%  | 3 | 60 | 5.0%
1971–1974  | 0 | 26 | 0.0%  | 2 | 21 | 9.5%  | 0 | 5 | 0.0%  | 0 | 0 | 0.0%  | 0 | 0 | 0.0%  | 0 | 8 | 0.0%  | 2 | 60 | 3.3%
1974–1975  | 2 | 29 | 6.9%  | 2 | 23 | 8.7%  | 0 | 6 | 0.0%  | 0 | 0 | 0.0%  | 0 | 0 | 0.0%  | 0 | 2 | 0.0%  | 4 | 60 | 6.7%
1975–1978  | 3 | 27 | 11.1%  | 3 | 27 | 11.1%  | 0 | 8 | 0.0%  | 0 | 0 | 0.0%  | 0 | 0 | 0.0%  | 0 | 2 | 0.0%  | 6 | 64 | 9.4%
1978–1981  | 3 | 27 | 11.1%  | 3 | 28 | 10.7%  | 0 | 6 | 0.0%  | 0 | 2 | 0.0%  | 0 | 0 | 0.0%  | 0 | 1 | 0.0%  | 6 | 64 | 9.4%
1981–1983  | 4 | 27 | 14.8%  | 4 | 28 | 14.3%  | 1 | 3 | 33.3%  | 1 | 5 | 20.0%  | 0 | 0 | 0.0%  | 0 | 1 | 0.0%  | 10 | 64 | 15.6%
1983–1984  | 7 | 30 | 23.3%  | 4 | 24 | 16.7%  | 1 | 4 | 25.0%  | 1 | 5 | 20.0%  | 0 | 0 | 0.0%  | 0 | 1 | 0.0%  | 13 | 64 | 20.3%
1984–1987  | 6 | 34 | 17.6%  | 5 | 28 | 17.9%  | 1 | 5 | 20.0%  | 1 | 7 | 14.3%  | 0 | 0 | 0.0%  | 1 | 2 | 50.0%  | 14 | 76 | 18.4%
1987–1990  | 5 | 32 | 15.6%  | 7 | 24 | 29.2%  | 1 | 5 | 20.0%  | 3 | 7 | 42.9%  | 0 | 0 | 0.0%  | 1 | 3 | 33.3%  | 17 | 76 | 22.4%
1990–1993  | 5 | 32 | 15.6%  | 7 | 29 | 24.1%  | 1 | 5 | 20.0%  | 4 | 8 | 50.0%  | 1 | 1 | 100.0%  | 0 | 1 | 0.0%  | 18 | 76 | 23.7%
1993–1996  | 4 | 30 | 13.3%  | 7 | 30 | 23.3%  | 0 | 6 | 0.0%  | 3 | 7 | 42.9%  | 2 | 2 | 100.0%  | 0 | 1 | 0.0%  | 16 | 76 | 21.1%
1996–1999  | 9 | 29 | 31.0%  | 8 | 32 | 25.0%  | 0 | 5 | 0.0%  | 5 | 7 | 71.4%  | 1 | 2 | 50.0%  | 0 | 1 | 0.0%  | 23 | 76 | 30.3%
1999–2002  | 9 | 29 | 31.0%  | 9 | 32 | 28.1%  | 0 | 3 | 0.0%  | 4 | 9 | 44.4%  | 0 | 1 | 0.0%  | 0 | 2 | 0.0%  | 22 | 76 | 28.9%
2002–2005  | 10 | 28 | 35.7%  | 8 | 31 | 25.8%  | 0 | 4 | 0.0%  | 4 | 8 | 50.0%  | 1 | 2 | 50.0%  | 0 | 3 | 0.0%  | 23 | 76 | 30.3%
2005–2008  | 12 | 28 | 42.9%  | 8 | 33 | 24.2%  | 1 | 6 | 16.7%  | 2 | 4 | 50.0%  | 3 | 4 | 75.0%  | 0 | 1 | 0.0%  | 26 | 76 | 34.2%
2008–2011  | 14 | 32 | 43.8%  | 9 | 32 | 28.1%  | 1 | 5 | 20.0%  | 0 | 0 | 0.0%  | 3 | 5 | 60.0%  | 0 | 2 | 0.0%  | 27 | 76 | 35.5%
2011–2014  | 14 | 31 | 45.2%  | 8 | 28 | 28.6%  | 2 | 6 | 33.3%  | 0 | 0 | 0.0%  | 6 | 9 | 66.7%  | 0 | 2 | 0.0%  | 30 | 76 | 39.5%
2014–2016  | 14 | 25 | 56.0%  | 5 | 27 | 18.5%  | 2 | 6 | 33.3%  | 0 | 0 | 0.0%  | 7 | 10 | 70.0%  | 1 | 8 | 12.5%  | 29 | 76 | 38.2%
2016–2019  | 14 | 26 | 53.8%  | 6 | 24 | 25.0%  | 2 | 6 | 33.3%  | 0 | 0 | 0.0%  | 5 | 9 | 55.6%  | 3 | 11 | 27.3%  | 30 | 76 | 39.5%
2019–2022  | 16 | 26 | 61.5%  | 10 | 30 | 33.3%  | 4 | 5 | 80.0%  | 0 | 0 | 0.0%  | 5 | 9 | 55.6%  | 2 | 6 | 33.3%  | 37 | 76 | 48.7%
2022–  | 16 | 26 | 61.5%  | 10 | 26 | 38.5%  | 4 | 6 | 66.7%  | 0 | 0 | 0.0%  | 8 | 12 | 66.7%  | 3 | 6 | 50.0%  | 41 | 76 | 53.9%

## See also

[edit]

* Women and government in Australia
* Women in the Australian House of Representatives

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ Women in South and Western Australia voted in the 1901 election.

2. ^ Indigenous Australian women did not achieve federal franchise in all jurisdictions until 1962, and were not required by law to enrol to vote until 1983.
3. ^ a b c d e f Sherrard, Kathleen (1943). "The Political History of Women in Australia". The Australian Quarterly. 15 (4): 36–51. doi:10.2307/20631140. JSTOR 20631140.
4. ^ a b van Tassell, G. Lane (1981). "Recruitment of Women in Australian National Politics: A Research Note". The Australian Quarterly. 53 (3): 334–342. doi:10.2307/20635131. ISSN 0005-0091. JSTOR 20635131.
5. ^ Cass, Deborah; Rubenstein, Kim (2021), Rubenstein, Kim (ed.), "Representation/s of Women in the Australian Constitutional System", Traversing the Divide, Honouring Deborah Cass's Contributions to Public and International Law (1 ed.), ANU Press, pp. 179–226, doi:10.2307/j.ctv1j9mjhx.16, JSTOR j.ctv1j9mjhx.16, S2CID 241304498, retrieved 18 December 2021
6. ^ Uhr, John (2002). "Explicating the Australian Senate". The Journal of Legislative Studies. 8 (3): 3–26. doi:10.1080/714003923. ISSN 1357-2334. S2CID 145705033.
7. ^ Macdonald, Emma (7 January 2001). "Rising Above the Genteel Rumble of the Pink Palace". Canberra Times. Canberra, Australian Capital Territory. p. 18\. ProQuest 1016152950. `{{cite news}}`: Unknown parameter `|publication=` ignored (help)
8. ^ Macmillan, Jade (10 September 2019). "Gender equality set to be achieved in the Senate for the first time". Australia: ABC News. Retrieved 14 September 2019.

## References

[edit]

* "Women in the 45th Parliament". Parliament of Australia. Archived from the original on 12 July 2017.
* "Senate Brief No. 3". Parliament of Australia. November 2017. Archived from the original on 16 September 2017.

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* Lieutenant governors

Related|

* All-women shortlist
* Council of Women World Leaders
* Gender power gap
* Muslim women political leaders
* Women Political Leaders

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