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International Women’s Day Parliament of 2020 2

‘An equal world isan enabled world’

#IWD2020 #EachforEqual 3

Highest number of womenMPs Equal representation of menand womenin Australiaparliamentsis improving. Since the election of Edith Cowan to the WA Parliament 99 years ago, 93 women have been members of the Legislative Council or Legislative Assembly in Western Australia. Currently there are 30 women members, making up 31.5 per cent of the WA Parlia- ment –the highest representation in its history. Today there is equal gender representation in the Australian Senate, with 38 women and 38men. 4 ‘Shield ofVoices’

by Dr Penelope Forlano, 2018

The artwork ‘Shield of Voices’ represents the collective strength and determination by the 93 women who have served as Members of the Parliamentof Western Australia and celebrates their contributions over the past 99 years.

Dr Forlano was the Parliament’s 2018 artist-in-residence.

‘Shield of Voices’ is on display in the Lee-Steere Foyer in Parliament House. 5

Shield of Voices 6

Celebrating Women’s Achievements

Each woman who has served as a member of the Parliament of Western Australia hasmade significant contributions within thecommunity, industry and government. Here are just a selection of their achievements. 7

’It is a huge responsibility and can be daunting, yet until we have parliaments that reflect the broad composition of our community, we run the risk of not upholding one of the fundamental tenets of democracy-government forthe people, by the people. Greater representation of women - an issue fought for so vigorously by women,and to a lesser degree men, in the last century -is but one aspect of this change.’

CherylEdwardes 8

Cheryl Davenport MLC (1989 -2001) The Hon Cheryl Davenport was the architect and proponent for changing the law to decriminalise abortion. Cheryl saw the Bill as exemplifying both the need for progressive women in Parlia- ment and for progressive parliamentarians to allow women the powerto determinetheirown reproductive choices. The Bill was passed on 21 May 1998 and became law on 26 May 1998 following a long and difficult debate and con- science votes inboth houses of Parliament. Cheryl was also a Shadow Minister for Women’s Interests and for Seniors from 1997 to 2001. She was later awarded an honorary doctorate from Curtin University for her contributionsto women’s health, equity and social justice.

Barbara Scott MLC (1993 -2009) The Hon Barbara Scott was an advocate and lobbyist for early childhood education when she was first elect- ed to Parliament in 1993,being known as the kindergarten lady. Barbara was chair of the Select Committee on Advocacy for Children from 2003 to 2004. The recommendationsofthis committee were instrumental in the creation of the Commissioner for Children and Young People of Western Aus- tralia. Barbara received the Medal of the Order of Australia on 26 January 2018 for her services to children and to the Parlia- ment of Western Australia. 9

Yvonne Henderson MLA (1983 - 1996) The Equal Opportunity Bill was introduced into the Western Australian Parliament on 16 September 1984. Yvonne Henderson had worked with a group of women to draft the early legislation. Newly elected Premier Brian Burke steered the pas- sage of the Bill through the Legislative Assembly for Yvonne, who was then a back-bencher. The Equal Opportunity Bill was introduced to promote equality in Western Australia by making discrimination on the grounds of sex, preg- nancy, race, religion and political conviction, illegal. In 2003, Yvonne was appointed the Western Australian Equal Opportunity Commissioner.

Josie Farrer MLA (2013 - currently serving) Josie Farrer introduced a private member’s bill to change the Western Australian Constitution Act 1889 to officially recognise Western Australia’s Aboriginal people as the first people of this land and the original custodians of Western Australia. A Joint Select Committee on Aboriginal Constitutional Recognition was established which recommended wording for a preamble in the Constitution to recognise Aboriginal people. Josie reintroduced her private member’s bill in 2015 which incorporated the find- ings of the select committee. The bill passed with bipartisan support and was assented to on 17September 2015. 10

Broadening Perspectives

Women in WA have been trailblazers in the political field, claiming both the first female member of an Australian parliament in Edith Cowan and the first Premier/Leader of the Government in Dr . In 2001, Carol Martin became the first female Aboriginal member of an Australia parliament when she was elected to the state seatof Kimberley.

Carmen Lawrence

‘As a member of Parliament I am particularly sensible of my obligation to give voice to and further the aspirations of all citizens, regardless of their status, wealth, sex, race, creedor disability.’ 11

The ‘first’ women have made it possible for others to enter into the parliamentary sphere. Just afew of those notable firsts are....

Edith Cowan Carol Martin MLA (1921 -1924) MLA (2001 -2013) 12 Notable Firsts

Dr Carmen Lawrence MLA (1986 - 1994) The Hon Carmen Lawrence became Australia’s first female premier on 12 February 1990, serving for three years until the Labor Government was defeated at the general election. She was the first female Leader of the Opposition in Western Australia until she resigned in 1994 to contest the federal seat of Fremantle. Upon winning the seat of Fremantle, Dr Law- rence becamethe first woman in Australia to serve in both a state and federal Parlia- ment.In the Keating Government she was Minister for Human Servicesand Health and Ministerassisting the PrimeMinister for the Status of Women.

Cheryl Edwardes MLA (1989 - 2005) Cheryl Edwardes was appointed Attorney General and Minister for Justice with the election of the Court Government in1993, becoming the first female Attorney General in Australia. Throughout her ministerialcareer, Cheryl held a range of portfolios, including Women’s Interests, Family and Children’s Services, Environ- ment, Labour Relations and Fair Trading. She was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in 2016 for her significant service to the people and Parliament of Western Australia, to the law and the environment. 13 MLC (1983 - 1993); MLA (1993 - 1996) The Hon Kay Hallahan was the first female cabinet min- ister in the Legislative Council and the first woman to sit in both Houses of the WA Parliament. She was responsible for six different portfolios between 1986 and 1993 and was a shadow minister inopposition between 1993 and 1996. Kay was awarded an Officer of the Order of Australia in June 2002 for service to the community, particularly as an advocate for the needs of children, women and the elderly, in matters of social justice, and to the Parliament of Western Australia.

Dr Elizabeth Constable MLA (1991 -2013) Dr Constable was the first elected Independent female member of Parliament. She served as a Minister in theBarnett Government from 2008 to 2012 even though she was an Independent member. Liz is the second longest serving woman MP inWA. She was a strong advocate for education and training, and was responsible for the introduction of the Independent Public School program. She was recognised with the Member of the Order of Aus- tralia in June 2019 for her significant service to the people and Parliament of Western Australia, and to education. 14

Sue Ellery MLC (2001 - currentlyserving) The Hon Sue Ellery became the first woman to be Leader of the Opposition in the Legisla- tive Council when shewas appointed on 16 September 2008, and the first woman Leader of the House on the election of the McGowan Government in March 2017. Sue has been Parliamentary Secretary for a number of different ministerial portfolios and became Minister for Educa- tion and Training on 17 March 2017.

Mia Davies MLC (2009 - 2013); (MLA 2013 -currently serving) Mia Davies is the first female leader of the WA Na- tional Party. She was Deputy Leader of the National Party of Australia (WA) from 2013 to 2017. On 21 March 2017, Mia was elected Leader of the National Party of Australia (WA) following the coali- tion’s defeat at the 2017election. 15

Kate Doust MLC (2001 - currentlyserving) The Hon Kate Doust became the first woman to be President of the Legislative Council in Western Aus- tralia when she was elected on 22 May 2017. Prior to her election as President, Kate was Parliamentary Secretary to a number of Ministers and was Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Legisla- tive Council from 2008 to 2017.

Liza MaryHarvey MLA (2008 - currentlyserving) Liza Harvey became the first Liberal woman Leader of the Opposition on 13 June 2019 af- ter the resignation of Dr Mike Nahan as Liberal Party Leader. She was also Western Australia’s first female Deputy Premier, serving from 2016 to 2017. Prior to becoming Leader of the Opposition, Liza was a Minister in the Barnett Government responsiblefor Police, Road Safety, Small Business and Women’s Issues.