Women in the Australian House of Representatives
There have been 114 women in the Australian House of Representatives since the establishment of the Parliament of Australia. Women have had the right to both vote and sit in parliament since 1902, however the first woman to enter the House of Representatives was Dame Enid Lyons in 1943. At that election, the first woman member of the Senate was also elected, and there have been women members of the Senate continuously ever since. By contrast, the House of Representatives has had women members continuously only since 1980.
All states and territories have been represented by women in the House of Representatives. In the 45th Australian Parliament there are 43 women.
- names in bold indicate women who have been appointed as Ministers and Parliamentary Secretaries
- names in italics indicate entry into Parliament through a by-election
- * symbolises members who have sat as members in both the House of Representatives and the Senate.
Name | Party | Electoral Division | Period of service |
---|---|---|---|
Dame Enid Lyons | UAP; Liberal | Darwin (Tas.) | 21 August 1943 – 19 March 1951 (retired) |
Doris Blackburn | Independent Labor | Bourke (Vic.) | 28 September 1946 – 10 December 1949 (defeated) |
Kay Brownbill | Liberal | Kingston (SA) | 26 November 1966 – 25 October 1969 (defeated) |
Joan Child | Labor | Henty (Vic.) | 18 May 1974 – 13 December 1975 (defeated) 18 October 1980 – 19 February 1990 (retired) |
Elaine Darling | Labor | Lilley (Qld) | 18 October 1980 – 2 February 1993 (retired) |
Ros Kelly | Labor | Canberra (ACT) | 18 October 1980 – 30 January 1995 (resigned) |
Wendy Fatin | Labor | Canning (WA) Brand (WA) |
5 March 1983 – 1 December 1984 1 December 1984 – 29 January 1996 (retired) |
Jeannette McHugh | Labor | Phillip (NSW) Grayndler (NSW) |
5 March 1983 – 13 March 1993 13 March 1993 – 29 January 1996 (retired) |
Helen Mayer | Labor | Chisholm (Vic.) | 5 March 1983 – 11 July 1987 (defeated) |
Carolyn Jakobsen | Labor | Cowan (WA) | 1 December 1984 – 13 March 1993 (defeated) |
Kathy Sullivan* | Liberal | Moncrieff (Qld) | 1 December 1984 – 8 October 2001 (retired) |
Mary Crawford | Labor | Forde (Qld) | 11 July 1987 – 2 March 1996 (defeated) |
Elizabeth Harvey | Labor | Hawker (SA) | 11 July 1987 – 24 March 1990 (defeated) |
Fran Bailey | Liberal | McEwen (Vic.) | 24 March 1990 – 13 March 1993 (defeated) 2 March 1996 – 19 July 2010 (retired) |
Janice Crosio | Labor | Prospect (NSW) | 24 March 1990 – 31 August 2004 (retired) |
Christine Gallus | Liberal | Hawker (SA) Hindmarsh (SA) |
24 March 1990 – 13 March 1993 13 March 1993 – 31 August 2004 (retired) |
Maggie Deahm | Labor | Macquarie (NSW) | 13 March 1993 – 2 March 1996 (defeated) |
Mary Easson | Labor | Lowe (NSW) | 13 March 1993 – 2 March 1996 (defeated) |
Marjorie Henzell | Labor | Capricornia (Qld) | 13 March 1993 – 2 March 1996 (defeated) |
Judi Moylan | Liberal | Pearce (WA) | 13 March 1993 – 5 August 2013 (retired) |
Silvia Smith | Labor | Bass (Tas.) | 13 March 1993 – 2 March 1996 (defeated) |
Trish Worth | Liberal | Adelaide (SA) | 13 March 1993 – 9 October 2004 (defeated) |
Carmen Lawrence | Labor | Fremantle (WA) | 12 March 1994 – 17 October 2007 (retired) |
Bronwyn Bishop* | Liberal | Mackellar (NSW) | 26 March 1994 – 9 May 2016 (retired) |
Trish Draper | Liberal | Makin (SA) | 2 March 1996 – 17 October 2007 (retired) |
Annette Ellis | Labor | Namadgi (ACT) Canberra (ACT) |
2 March 1996 – 28 October 1998 28 October 1998 – 19 July 2010 (retired) |
Kay Elson | Liberal | Forde (Qld) | 2 March 1996 – 17 October 2007 (retired) |
Teresa Gambaro | Liberal; Liberal National | Petrie (Qld) Brisbane (Qld) |
2 March 1996 – 24 November 2007 (defeated) 21 August 2010 – 9 May 2016 (retired) |
Joanna Gash | Liberal | Gilmore (NSW) | 2 March 1996 – 5 August 2013 (retired) |
Elizabeth Grace | Liberal | Lilley (Qld) | 2 March 1996 – 3 October 1998 (defeated) |
Pauline Hanson* | Independent; One Nation | Oxley (Qld) | 2 March 1996 – 3 October 1998 (defeated) |
Susan Jeanes | Liberal | Kingston (SA) | 2 March 1996 – 3 October 1998 (defeated) |
Ricky Johnston | Liberal | Canning (WA) | 2 March 1996 – 3 October 1998 (defeated) |
De-Anne Kelly | National | Dawson (Qld) | 2 March 1996 – 24 November 2007 (defeated) |
Jackie Kelly† | Liberal | Lindsay (NSW) | 2 March 1996 – 11 September 1996 (disqualified) 19 October 1996 – 17 October 2007 (retired) |
Jenny Macklin | Labor | Jagajaga (Vic.) | 2 March 1996 – |
Sharman Stone | Liberal | Murray (Vic.) | 2 March 1996 – 9 May 2016 (retired) |
Danna Vale | Liberal | Hughes (NSW) | 2 March 1996 – 19 July 2010 (retired) |
Andrea West | Liberal | Bowman (Qld) | 2 March 1996 – 3 October 1998 (defeated) |
Julie Bishop | Liberal | Curtin (WA) | 3 October 1998 – |
Anna Burke | Labor | Chisholm (Vic.) | 3 October 1998 – 9 May 2016 (retired) |
Jane Gerick | Labor | Canning (WA) | 3 October 1998 – 10 November 2001 (defeated) |
Julia Gillard | Labor | Lalor (Vic.) | 3 October 1998 – 5 August 2013 (retired) |
Jill Hall | Labor | Shortland (NSW) | 3 October 1998 – 9 May 2016 (retired) |
Kelly Hoare | Labor | Charlton (NSW) | 3 October 1998 – 17 October 2007 (retired) |
Kay Hull | National | Riverina (NSW) | 3 October 1998 – 19 July 2010 (retired) |
Julia Irwin | Labor | Fowler (NSW) | 3 October 1998 – 19 July 2010 (retired) |
Cheryl Kernot* | Labor | Dickson (Qld) | 3 October 1998 – 10 November 2001 (defeated) |
Kirsten Livermore | Labor | Capricornia (Qld) | 3 October 1998 – 5 August 2013 (retired) |
Jann McFarlane | Labor | Stirling (WA) | 3 October 1998 – 9 October 2004 (defeated) |
Margaret May | Liberal | McPherson (Qld) | 3 October 1998 – 19 July 2010 (retired) |
Michelle O'Byrne | Labor | Bass (Tas.) | 3 October 1998 – 9 October 2004 (defeated) |
Tanya Plibersek | Labor | Sydney (NSW) | 3 October 1998 – |
Nicola Roxon | Labor | Gellibrand (Vic) | 3 October 1998 – 5 August 2013 (retired) |
Ann Corcoran | Labor | Isaacs (Vic) | 12 August 2000 – 17 October 2007 (retired) |
Leonie Short | Labor | Ryan (Qld) | 17 March 2001 – 10 November 2001 (defeated) |
Jennie George | Labor | Throsby (NSW) | 10 November 2001 – 19 July 2010 (retired) |
Sharon Grierson | Labor | Newcastle (NSW) | 10 November 2001 – 5 August 2013 (retired) |
Sharryn Jackson | Labor | Hasluck (WA) | 10 November 2001 – 9 October 2004 (defeated) 24 November 2007 – 21 August 2010 (defeated) |
Catherine King | Labor | Ballarat (Vic) | 10 November 2001 – |
Sussan Ley | Liberal | Farrer (NSW) | 10 November 2001 – |
Sophie Mirabella | Liberal | Indi (Vic) | 10 November 2001 – 7 September 2013 (defeated) |
Maria Vamvakinou | Labor | Calwell (Vic) | 10 November 2001 – |
Sharon Bird | Labor | Cunningham (NSW) | 9 October 2004 – |
Justine Elliot | Labor | Richmond (NSW) | 9 October 2004 – |
Kate Ellis | Labor | Adelaide (SA) | 9 October 2004 – |
Louise Markus | Liberal | Greenway (NSW) Macquarie (NSW) |
9 October 2004 – 21 August 2010 21 August 2010 – 2 July 2016 (defeated) |
Julie Owens | Labor | Parramatta (NSW) | 9 October 2004 – |
Jodie Campbell | Labor | Bass (Tas) | 24 November 2007 – 19 July 2010 (retired) |
Julie Collins | Labor | Franklin (Tas) | 24 November 2007 – |
Yvette D'Ath | Labor | Petrie (Qld) | 24 November 2007 – 7 September 2013 (defeated) |
Nola Marino | Liberal | Forrest (WA) | 24 November 2007 – |
Maxine McKew | Labor | Bennelong (NSW) | 24 November 2007 – 21 August 2010 (defeated) |
Belinda Neal* | Labor | Robertson (NSW) | 24 November 2007 – 19 July 2010 (retired) |
Melissa Parke | Labor | Fremantle (WA) | 24 November 2007 – 9 May 2016 (retired) |
Kerry Rea | Labor | Bonner (Qld) | 24 November 2007 – 21 August 2010 (defeated) |
Amanda Rishworth | Labor | Kingston (SA) | 24 November 2007 – |
Janelle Saffin | Labor | Page (NSW) | 24 November 2007 – 7 September 2013 (defeated) |
Kelly O'Dwyer | Liberal | Higgins (Vic) | 5 December 2009 – |
Karen Andrews | Liberal National | McPherson (Qld) | 21 August 2010 – |
Gai Brodtmann | Labor | Canberra (ACT) | 21 August 2010 – |
Natasha Griggs | Country Liberal | Solomon (NT) | 21 August 2010 – 2 July 2016 (defeated) |
Deborah O'Neill | Labor | Robertson (NSW) | 21 August 2010 – 7 September 2013 (defeated) |
Jane Prentice | Liberal National | Ryan (Qld) | 21 August 2010 – |
Michelle Rowland | Labor | Greenway (NSW) | 21 August 2010 – |
Laura Smyth | Labor | La Trobe (Vic) | 21 August 2010 – 7 September 2013 (defeated) |
Lisa Chesters | Labor | Bendigo (Vic) | 7 September 2013 – |
Sharon Claydon | Labor | Newcastle (NSW) | 7 September 2013 – |
Sarah Henderson | Liberal | Corangamite (Vic) | 7 September 2013 – |
Michelle Landry | Liberal National | Capricornia (Qld) | 7 September 2013 – |
Alannah MacTiernan | Labor | Perth (WA) | 7 September 2013 – 9 May 2016 (retired) |
Cathy McGowan | Independent | Indi (Vic) | 7 September 2013 – |
Karen McNamara | Liberal | Dobell (NSW) | 7 September 2013 – 2 July 2016 (defeated) |
Clare O'Neil | Labor | Hotham (Vic) | 7 September 2013 – |
Melissa Price | Liberal | Durack (WA) | 7 September 2013 – |
Joanne Ryan | Labor | Lalor (Vic) | 7 September 2013 – |
Fiona Scott | Liberal | Lindsay (NSW) | 7 September 2013 – 2 July 2016 (defeated) |
Ann Sudmalis | Liberal | Gilmore (NSW) | 7 September 2013 – |
Lucy Wicks | Liberal | Robertson (NSW) | 7 September 2013 – |
Terri Butler | Labor | Griffith (Qld) | 8 February 2014 – |
Anne Aly | Labor | Cowan | 2 July 2016 – |
Julia Banks | Liberal | Chisholm (Vic) | 2 July 2016 – |
Linda Burney | Labor | Barton (NSW) | 2 July 2016 – |
Nicolle Flint | Liberal | Boothby (SA) | 2 July 2016 – |
Emma Husar | Labor | Lindsay (NSW) | 2 July 2016 – |
Justine Keay | Labor | Braddon (Tas) | 2 July 2016 – |
Madeleine King | Labor | Brand (WA) | 2 July 2016 – |
Susan Lamb | Labor | Longman (Qld) | 2 July 2016 – |
Emma McBride | Labor | Dobell (NSW) | 2 July 2016 – |
Cathy O'Toole | Labor | Herbert (Qld) | 2 July 2016 – |
Rebekha Sharkie | Nick Xenophon Team | Mayo (SA) | 2 July 2016 – |
Anne Stanley | Labor | Werriwa (NSW) | 2 July 2016 – |
Meryl Swanson | Labor | Paterson (NSW) | 2 July 2016 – |
Susan Templeman | Labor | Macquarie (NSW) | 2 July 2016 – |
† Disqualified 11 September 1996 and re-elected at by-election 19 October 1996. |
Timeline
Proportion of women in the House
Numbers and proportions are as they were directly after the relevant election and do not take into account by-elections, defections or other changes in membership. 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 | Others | Total | ||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Women | Total | % | Women | Total | % | Women | Total | % | Women | Total | % | Women | Total | % | |
1943–1946 | 0 | 49 | 0.0% | 1 | 12 | 8.3% | 0 | 11 | 0.0% | 0 | 2 | 0.0% | 1 | 74 | 1.4% |
1946–1949 | 0 | 43 | 0.0% | 1 | 17 | 5.9% | 0 | 12 | 0.0% | 1 | 2 | 50.0% | 2 | 74 | 2.7% |
1949–1951 | 0 | 47 | 0.0% | 1 | 55 | 1.8% | 0 | 19 | 0.0% | 0 | 0 | 0.0% | 1 | 121 | 0.8% |
1951–1954 | 0 | 52 | 0.0% | 0 | 52 | 0.0% | 0 | 17 | 0.0% | 0 | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 121 | 0.0% |
1954–1955 | 0 | 57 | 0.0% | 0 | 47 | 0.0% | 0 | 17 | 0.0% | 0 | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 121 | 0.0% |
1955–1958 | 0 | 47 | 0.0% | 0 | 57 | 0.0% | 0 | 18 | 0.0% | 0 | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 122 | 0.0% |
1958–1961 | 0 | 45 | 0.0% | 0 | 58 | 0.0% | 0 | 19 | 0.0% | 0 | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 122 | 0.0% |
1961–1963 | 0 | 60 | 0.0% | 0 | 45 | 0.0% | 0 | 17 | 0.0% | 0 | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 122 | 0.0% |
1963–1966 | 0 | 50 | 0.0% | 0 | 52 | 0.0% | 0 | 20 | 0.0% | 0 | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 122 | 0.0% |
1966–1969 | 0 | 61 | 0.0% | 1 | 41 | 2.4% | 0 | 21 | 0.0% | 0 | 1 | 0.0% | 1 | 124 | 0.8% |
1969–1972 | 0 | 59 | 0.0% | 0 | 46 | 0.0% | 0 | 20 | 0.0% | 0 | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 125 | 0.0% |
1972–1974 | 0 | 67 | 0.0% | 0 | 38 | 0.0% | 0 | 20 | 0.0% | 0 | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 125 | 0.0% |
1974–1975 | 1 | 66 | 1.5% | 0 | 40 | 0.0% | 0 | 21 | 0.0% | 0 | 0 | 0.0% | 1 | 127 | 0.8% |
1975–1977 | 0 | 36 | 0.0% | 0 | 68 | 0.0% | 0 | 23 | 0.0% | 0 | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 127 | 0.0% |
1977–1980 | 0 | 38 | 0.0% | 0 | 67 | 0.0% | 0 | 19 | 0.0% | 0 | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 124 | 0.0% |
1980–1983 | 3 | 51 | 5.9% | 0 | 54 | 0.0% | 0 | 20 | 0.0% | 0 | 0 | 0.0% | 3 | 125 | 2.4% |
1983–1984 | 6 | 75 | 8.0% | 0 | 33 | 0.0% | 0 | 17 | 0.0% | 0 | 0 | 0.0% | 6 | 125 | 4.8% |
1984–1987 | 7 | 82 | 8.5% | 1 | 45 | 2.2% | 0 | 21 | 0.0% | 0 | 0 | 0.0% | 8 | 148 | 5.4% |
1987–1990 | 8 | 86 | 9.3% | 1 | 43 | 2.3% | 0 | 19 | 0.0% | 0 | 0 | 0.0% | 9 | 148 | 6.1% |
1990–1993 | 7 | 78 | 9.0% | 3 | 55 | 5.5% | 0 | 14 | 0.0% | 0 | 1 | 0.0% | 10 | 148 | 6.8% |
1993–1996 | 9 | 80 | 11.3% | 4 | 49 | 8.2% | 0 | 16 | 0.0% | 0 | 2 | 0.0% | 13 | 147 | 8.8% |
1996–1998 | 4 | 49 | 8.1% | 17 | 76 | 22.4% | 1 | 18 | 5.6% | 1 | 5 | 20.0% | 23 | 148 | 15.5% |
1998–2001 | 16 | 67 | 23.9% | 15 | 64 | 23.4% | 2 | 16 | 12.5% | 0 | 1 | 0.0% | 33 | 148 | 22.3% |
2001–2004 | 20 | 65 | 30.8% | 16 | 69 | 23.1% | 2 | 13 | 15.4% | 0 | 3 | 0.0% | 38 | 150 | 25.3% |
2004–2007 | 20 | 60 | 33.3% | 15 | 75 | 20.0% | 2 | 12 | 16.7% | 0 | 3 | 0.0% | 37 | 150 | 24.7% |
2007–2010 | 27 | 83 | 32.5% | 12 | 55 | 21.8% | 1 | 10 | 10.0% | 0 | 2 | 0.0% | 40 | 150 | 26.7% |
2010–2013 | 23 | 72 | 31.9% | 13 | 61 | 21.3% | 0 | 12 | 0.0% | 0 | 5 | 0.0% | 36 | 150 | 24.0% |
2013–2016 | 20 | 55 | 36.4% | 16 | 75 | 21.3% | 1 | 15 | 6.7% | 1 | 5 | 20.0% | 38 | 150 | 25.3% |
2016– | 28 | 69 | 40.6% | 12 | 60 | 20.0% | 1 | 16 | 6.3% | 2 | 5 | 40.0% | 43 | 150 | 28.7% |
See also
References
- Parliamentary Handbook of the Commonwealth of Australia. 2005. Women in Parliament
- Women in the Current (41st) Parliament