Liberal Women: a Proud History
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<insert section here> | 1 foreword The Liberal Party of Australia is the party of opportunity and choice for all Australians. From its inception in 1944, the Liberal Party has had a proud LIBERAL history of advancing opportunities for Australian women. It has done so from a strong philosophical tradition of respect for competence and WOMEN contribution, regardless of gender, religion or ethnicity. A PROUD HISTORY OF FIRSTS While other political parties have represented specific interests within the Australian community such as the trade union or environmental movements, the Liberal Party has always proudly demonstrated a broad and inclusive membership that has better understood the aspirations of contents all Australians and not least Australian women. The Liberal Party also has a long history of pre-selecting and Foreword by the Hon Kelly O’Dwyer MP ... 3 supporting women to serve in Parliament. Dame Enid Lyons, the first female member of the House of Representatives, a member of the Liberal Women: A Proud History ... 4 United Australia Party and then the Liberal Party, served Australia with exceptional competence during the Menzies years. She demonstrated The Early Liberal Movement ... 6 the passion, capability and drive that are characteristic of the strong The Liberal Party of Australia: Beginnings to 1996 ... 8 Liberal women who have helped shape our nation. Key Policy Achievements ... 10 As one of the many female Liberal parliamentarians, and one of the A Proud History of Firsts ... 11 thousands of female Liberal Party members across Australia, I am truly proud of our party’s history. I am proud to be a member of a party with a The Howard Years ... 12 diverse parliamentary team that aspires to represent all Australians. Key Policy Achievements ... 14 As members of a party founded on concepts of freedom and A Proud History of Firsts ... 15 opportunity, it is natural for Liberals to support the aspirations of women. So, it is an honour to compile and edit this booklet reflecting on our The Present ... 16 enviable history as a party with strong female leadership. I hope that Key Policy Achievements ... 18 the contents of this book will help inspire a new generation of women to A Proud History of Firsts ... 19 make an energetic contribution to our great nation’s future. Looking Ahead ... 20 Our Team ... 24 The Hon Kelly O’Dwyer MP Federal Member for Higgins Minister for Revenue and Financial Services Minister for Women Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Public Service 2 | | 3 A proud history The Liberal Party is the party of opportunity, We believe reward and choice in Australia. • In the inalienable rights and freedoms of Since its formation in 1944, the Liberal Party all peoples; and we work towards a lean government that minimises interference in has been the party that has created more our daily lives; and maximises individual and opportunities for Australian women. private sector initiative We achieved this by implementing • In government that nurtures and encourages policies that strengthened the economy, its citizens through incentive, rather than putting limits on people through the punishing supported families and recognised reward disincentives of burdensome taxes and the for effort. We have been, and continue to stifling structures of Labor's corporate state be, committed to providing greater legal, and bureaucratic red tape. economic and social opportunities for all. • In those most basic freedoms of parliamentary democracy – the freedom of thought, worship, The Liberal Party has also strived to support speech and association. and promote women into Parliament. Since • In a just and humane society in which the Federation, the Coalition has had greater importance of the family and the role of law female representation in both the Cabinet and justice is maintained. and the Ministry than the Labor Party. We are • In equal opportunity for all Australians; and incredibly proud of the many political and the encouragement and facilitation of wealth social milestones that have been achieved so that all may enjoy the highest possible by the women of our party. standards of living, health, education and social justice. As Dame Enid Lyons, the first woman ever • That, wherever possible, government should elected to the House of Representatives, not compete with an efficient private sector; articulated in her first speech to Parliament, and that businesses and individuals - not we are a party that chooses candidates government - are the true creators of wealth and employment. on their merits. Our record continues to demonstrate a commitment to supporting • In preserving Australia's naturalThe beautyEarly and Liberal Movement the environment for future generations. talented women throughout Australia who Prior to the formation of the The 19th Century liberal movement policy have come to a life of public service from • That our nation has a constructivemodern Liberal role Party to ofplay Australia of equal education for boys and girls was a key reform that transformed the nation. a variety of backgrounds and with a broad in maintaining world peace andin 1944, democracy there was an active liberal movement that had a significant The early liberal movement then moved quickly to secure voting rights for women through alliance with other freeinfluence nations. in shaping modern range of experiences. around the Commonwealth. Australia. Female suffrage was a priority for, and mobilised many women in the liberal movement, many of whomthe were liberal well party of australia: educated and willing to beginnings participate in to 1996 The howard years (1996 - 2007) public life. Within a short time, women’s political organisations were formed to support the liberal cause. In 1901, women in South Australia and Western Australia already had the vote and were able to participate in the first Federal Election of the newly formed nation. Women were already playing significant roles in the organisationsThe Liberal that Party later was led founded to on October 16, 1944 after a three-day conference in Albury in NSW. • Prime Minister John Howard pictured with his incoming team of women after the successful the formation of the Liberal Party. Liberal 1996 Federal Election. A proud history The Early Liberal Movement the liberalAt the Albury party Conference of in 1944, australia: where in the creation beginnings of the Federal Women’s to 1996 The howard years (1996 - 2007) The Present Looking ahead • The Australian Women’s National League men were also active in encouraging the structure of the modern Liberal Party Committee at the Party’s meeting of the at its peak had 500 branches and more Under the Prime Ministership of The Coalition’s historic 1996 election women to organise politically.was determined In contrast, and the Constitution Federal Council in August 1945. than 54,000 members across Australia. victory was accompanied by the election the Australian Labor Party,adopted, already Robert Menzies in said: John Howard from 1996 to 2007 Just over a year later, the Federal the Liberal Party of Australia’s of 26 female Members and Senators to existence, was far less “Womenfocussed are unquestionablyon destined Women’s Committee was incorporated strong tradition of supporting and Parliament. to exercise more and more influence female political participation and suffrage, into the constitution of the Liberal Party improving the position of women The Howard Government recognised the upon practical politics in Australia... In and in doing so secured representation for commitment of females to fully participate due to its trade union rootsthe educating dominated of the electorateby in liberal in Australia continued. women on the Party’s Federal Executive. in the workforce and in education and men. ideas they have for many years been training. During this period, more women an effective force. Now we have an The Federal Constitution of the Party than men completed Year 12 and In 1902 Mrs Hilma Molyneuxorganisation Parkes, in which who all distinctions was altered to enshrine the position of a participated in higher levels of education. 4 | Liberal Women: A Proud History of Firsts had been a leader in thehave New gone, South and with Wales men and women female Vice President of the Party. | 5 Women also took on a greater role in A Proud History working equally for the one body...” When elected Prime Minister in 1949, Suffrage League, formed the Women’s business and industry throughout the From the very beginning of the Party’s Menzies oversaw the amendment of the Liberal League (NSW). The League fought Howard Government, with nearly 32 per operations, Dame Enid Lyons and Liberal Party’s policy platform to include: cent of small businesses around the hard and was ultimatelyDame successful Elizabeth Couchman in had a great • equality of opportunity, liberties and country being operated by women. winning the right for womeninfluence to on beour policies and structure. status for men and women; and equal Dame Elizabeth successfully negotiated a The Howard Government committed itself pre-selected as candidates for Parliament. freedom to engage in all civic and deal with Menzies to merge the Australian to an Australia where women were full political activities in the community; In 1903 the AustralianWomen’s Women’s National National League with the Liberal and active participants in all spheres of Party, and both women played a core role public and private life, and held a wide League (AWNL) was formed in Victoria range of decision-making