I am woman hear me roar

On 8 March we celebrate International Women’s Day and in a few weeks Australians will head to the polls to elect local representatives and our next federal government. In this month’s blog I reflect on the trailblazing women who campaigned for the right to vote in Australia and the legacy they’ve left behind.

A good education, a commitment to social reform and equality and resilience in the face of adversity are traits shared by Australia’s leading suffragettes. In 1894, South Australia became the first state in Australia to grant women the right to vote and to stand for state parliament and the first place in the world to give equal political rights to both men and women. Western Australia gave women voting rights in 1899 but excluded First Nations Women. In June 1902, after months of divisive debate, the new Commonwealth Parliament gave women 21 and over the right to vote in elections and stand for Australian Parliament. So, who are the women who shaped our future?

Mary Lee was a well-educated woman with a keen sense of social justice. She was a member of several social reform groups and successfully campaigned for legislation to raise the age of consent from 12 to 16 years in 1885. Mary argued that women’s suffrage was essential to raise the legal status of women in Australia and was a driving force behind the establishment of the Women’s Suffrage League. While she was often ridiculed and abused, Mary spoke fearlessly for the vote. After six attempts to introduce suffrage bills, South Australia passed the bill in December 1894. Mary was also a unionist, helping to form the Working Women’s Trade Union. Mary declined several offers to stand for Parliament and a bronze bust stands in Prince Henry Gardens on North Terrace, Adelaide in her honour.

Born in Victoria, Vida Goldstein is one of the most well-known Australian suffragettes. Vida took up her mother’s passion for social reform, getting involved in many social welfare causes. She was well-educated, read widely and attended state parliament to better understand procedures which she used to campaign for legislative reform. An impressive speaker, Vida addressed the International Suffrage Conference in the USA, was elected Secretary and presented evidence to the US congress. In 1902, Vida was one of only four women in the British Empire, to be nominated to stand for election to a national parliament. Vida believed in equal rights and pay, appointment of women to official posts, opposed the White Australia Policy, and lobbied for reform such as birth control and disarmament.

In 1921, Edith Cowan became the first woman member of an Australian parliament when she was elected to the Western Australian Legislative Assembly. Edith was a social reformer, women’s rights activist and focused on helping women and children. This was shaped by her own traumatic childhood, losing her mother, being separated from her siblings and seeing her father tried and hung for killing his second wife. Edith joined volunteer organisations supporting children and women and helped to found Australia’s first women’s club providing a place for women to learn about community issues, practice public speaking and support women’s suffrage. Edith was a staunch supporter of state education and during World War I, she worked with the Red Cross and established an institute to provide meals to soldiers. She was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1920 for her contribution to the war effort. She was instrumental in helping to pass legislation allowing women in Western Australia to become lawyers or to practice any other profession. Edith Cowan University was named in her honour and her image appears on the Australian $50 banknote.

Since 1902, only one woman has held the office of Prime Minister in Australia, Julia Gillard. Whatever your political beliefs, most people agree that while in power Julia was treated appallingly by her male counterparts and commentators like Alan Jones. Julia led a minority government and despite ongoing political turmoil 570 bills were passed by the Senate, with key achievements including the National Disability Insurance Scheme, the child abuse royal commission, a carbon price, education funding and paid parental leave. One moment defines Julia’s time as Australia’s first female Prime Minister. Her speech in Parliament where she called out Tony Abbott, the leader of the Opposition for his misogynistic comments and behaviour. This speech resonated with women around the world and is as powerful today as it was in 2012. We can only hope that Julia has paved the way for better treatment of women in our parliament and one day for another woman to hold the office of Prime Minister.

Photos (L to R): 1902 Women Vote Photo National Library of Australia, Women Protesting for Suffrage SA-1916, Australian Suffragettes ver_1