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Home | Historical Information on the Australian Parliament | Number of women in Parliament

Number of women in Parliament


Senate
As at commencement of new term on 1 July following the election, date of term commencement, or from date of appointment under section 15 of the Constitution.
  ALP LIB NPA DLP
From F/Party % F F/Party % F F/Party % F F/Party % F
21.8.1943 1/22 4.5 0/12   0/2      
1.7.1947 1/33 3.0 1/2 50.0 0/1      
22.2./1.7.1950 1/34 2.9 3/20 15.0 0/6      
28.4.1951* 1/28 3.6 3/26 11.5 0/6      
1.7.1953 1/29 3.4 3/26 11.5 0/5      
11.10.1955 1/29 3.4 4/26 15.4 0/5      
10.12.1955 1/29 3.4 3/25 12.0 1/6 16.7    
1.7.1956 1/28 3.6 3/24 12.5 1/6 16.7 0/2  
1.7.1959 1/26 3.8 3/25 12.0 1/7 14.3 0/2  
1.7.1962 1/28 3.6 4/24 16.7 0/6   0/1  
1.7.1965 1/27 3.7 3/23 13.0 0/7   0/2  
1.7.1968 0/27   3/21 14.3 0/7   0/4  
11.6.1971 0/27   2/21 9.5 0/7   0/4  
1.7.1971 0/26   2/21 9.5 0/5   0/5  
18.5.1974* 2/29 6.9 2/23 8.7 0/6      
13.12.1975* 3/27 11.1 3/27 11.1 0/8      
14.12.1977 3/27 11.1 3/27 11.1 0/8      
1.7.1978 3/26 11.5 3/29 10.3 0/6      
15.10.1980 4/26 15.4 3/29 10.3 0/6      
12.3.1981 4/26 15.4 3/29 10.3 1/6 16.7    
5.5.1981 4/26 15.4 4/29 13.8 1/6 16.7    
1.7.1981 4/27 14.8 4/28 14.3 1/3 33.3    
5.3.1983* 7/30 23.3 4/24 16.7 1/4 25.0    
22.11.1984 7/30 23.3 3/24 12.5 1/4 25.0    
1.12.1984 7/35 20.0 5/28 17.9 1/6 16.7    
1.7.1985 6/34 17.6 5/28 17.9 1/5 20.0    
13.3.1986 6/34 17.6 6/28 21.4 1/5 20.0    
26.8.1986 6/34 17.6 6/28 21.4 1/5 20.0    
11.2.1987 7/34 20.6 6/28 21.4 1/5 20.0    
11.7.1987* 5/32 15.6 7/27 25.9 1/7 14.3    
16.2.1988 4/32 12.5 7/27 25.9 1/7 14.3    
21.7.1988 4/32 12.5 7/27 25.9 1/7 14.3    
4.4.1990 4/32 12.5 7/27 25.9 1/7 14.3    
1.7.1990 5/32 15.6 7/29 24.1 1/5 20.0    
29.8.1991 5/32 15.6 7/29 24.1 1/5 20.0    
12.3.1992 5/32 15.6 7/29 24.1 1/5 20.0    
31.7.1992 5/32 15.6 7/29 24.1 1/5 20.0    
1.7.1993 4/30 13.3 7/30 23.3 0/6      
24.8.1993 5/30 16.7 7/30 23.3 0/6      
8.3.1994 6/30 20.0 6/30 20.0 0/6      
3.5.1995 6/30 20.0 6/30 20.0 0/6      
29.11.1995 6/30 20.0 6/30 20.0 0/6      
8.3.1996 7/30 23.3 6/30 20.0 0/6      
1.7.1996 9/29 31.0 8/31 25.8 0/6      
9.4.1997 9/28 32.1 9/31 29.0 0/6      
13.5.1997 9/28 32.1 10/31 32.3 0/6      
30.10.1997 9/28 32.1 10/31 32.3 0/6      
16.6.1998 10/28 35.7 10/31 32.3 0/6      
14.10.1998 9/28 32.1 10/31 32.3 0/6      
1.7.1999 9/29 31.0 9/31 29.0 0/4      
12.2.2002 9/28 32.1 8/31 25.8 0/4      
1.7.2002 11/28 39.3 8/31 25.8 0/4      
26.7.2002 11/28 39.3 8/31 25.8 0/4      
18.2.2003 11/28 39.3 7/31 22.6 0/4      
5.5.2005 11/28 39.3 8/31 25.8 0/4      
1.7.2005 13/28 46.4 8/33 24.2 1/6 16.6    
3.2.2006 13/28 46.4 8/34 23.5 1/4 25.0    
19.4.2007 13/28 46.4 9/34 26.5 1/4 25.0    
3.5.2007 13/28 46.4 8/34 23.5 1/4 25.0    
8.5.2008 14/28 50.0 8/34 23.5 1/4 25.0    
1.7.2008 14/32 43.8 9/32 28.1 1/4 25.0    


  AD GREENS Others
(IND etc.)		 No. %
From F/Party % F F/Party % F F/Party % F Size female female
21.8.1943             36 1 2.8
1.7.1947             36 2 5.6
22.2/1.7.1950             60 4 6.7
28.4.1951*             60 4 6.7
1.7.1953             60 4 6.7
11.10.1955             60 5 8.3
10.12.1955             60 5 8.3
1.7.1956             60 5 8.3
1.7.1959             60 5 8.3
1.7.1962         0/1   60 5 8.3
1.7.1965         0/1   60 4 6.7
1.7.1968         0/1   60 3 5.0
11.6.1971         0/1   60 2 3.3
1.7.1971         0/3   60 2 3.3
18.5.1974*         0/2   60 4 6.7
13.12.1975*         0/2   64 6 9.4
14.12.1977 1/1 100.0     0/1   64 7 10.9
1.7.1978 0/2           64 6 9.4
15.10.1980 0/2       0/1   64 7 10.9
12.3.1981 0/2       0/1   64 8 12.5
5.5.1981 0/2       0/1   64 9 14.1
1.7.1981 1/5 20.0     0/1   64 10 15.6
5.3.1983* 1/5 20.0     0/1   64 13 20.3
22.11.1984 1/5 20.0     0/1   64 12 18.8
1.12.1984 1/6 16.7     0/1   76 14 18.4
1.7.1985 1/7 14.3     1/2 50.0 76 14 18.4
13.3.1986 1/7 14.3     1/2 50.0 76 15 19.7
26.8.1986 2/7 28.6     1/2 50.0 76 16 21.1
11.2.1987 2/7 28.6     1/2 50.0 76 17 22.4
11.7.1987* 3/7 42.9     1/3 33.3 76 17 22.4
16.2.1988 3/7 42.9     1/3 33.3 76 16 21.1
21.7.1988 3/7 42.9     2/3 66.7 76 17 22.4
4.4.1990 3/7 42.9     2/3 66.7 76 17 22.4
1.7.1990 4/8 50.0 1/1 100.0 0/1   76 18 23.7
29.8.1991 5/8 62.5 1/1 100.0 0/1   76 19 25.0
12.3.1992 5/8 62.5 1/1 100.0 0/1   76 19 25.0
31.7.1992 4/7 57.1 1/1 100.0 1/2 50.0 76 19 25.0
1.7.1993 3/7 42.9 2/2 100.0 0/1   76 16 21.1
24.8.1993 3/7 42.9 2/2 100.0 0/1   76 17 22.4
8.3.1994 3/7 42.9 2/2 100.0 0/1   76 17 22.4
3.5.1995 3/7 42.9 2/2 100.0 0/1   76 17 22.4
29.11.1995 4/7 57.1 2/2 100.0 0/1   76 18 23.7
8.3.1996 4/7 57.1 2/2 100.0 0/1   76 19 25.0
1.7.1996 5/7 71.4 1/2 50.0 0/1   76 23 30.3
9.4.1997 5/7 71.4 1/2 50.0 0/2   76 24 31.6
13.5.1997 5/7 71.4 1/2 50.0 0/2   76 25 32.9
30.10.1997 4/7 57.1 1/2 50.0 0/2   76 24 31.6
16.6.1998 4/7 57.1 1/2 50.0 0/2   76 25 32.9
14.10.1998 4/7 57.1 1/2 50.0 0/2   76 24 31.6
1.7.1999 4/9 44.4 0/1   0/2   76 22 28.9
12.2.2002 4/9 44.4 0/1   0/3   76 21 27.6
1.7.2002 3/8 37.5 1/2 50.0 0/3   76 23 30.3
26.7.2002 2/7 28.6 1/2 50.0 1/3 33.3 76 23 30.3
18.2.2003 2/7 28.6 1/2 50.0 1/3 33.3 76 22 30.3
5.5.2005 2/7 28.6 1/2 50.0 1/3 33.3 76 22 30.3
1.7.2005 2/4 50.0 3/4 75.0 0/1   76 27 35.5
3.2.2006 2/4 50.0 3/4 75.0 0/1   76 27 35.5
19.4.2007 2/4 50.0 3/4 75.0 0/1   76 28 36.8
3.5.2007 2/4 50.0 3/4 75.0 0/1   76 27 35.5
8.5.2008 2/4 50.0 3/4 75.0 0/1   76 28 36.8
1.7.2008     3/5 60.0 0/1   76 27 35.5
Notes: Term commencement and relevant election dates in bold, section 15 dates in unbolded type.
LIB includes UAP. NP includes CP, NCP and NPA. CLP figures included either in Liberal or NCP totals.
Variations in party affiliations which did not affect the number of women are not included.
* Indicates simultaneous dissolution.

 

House of Representatives
  ALP LIB NP IND Total No. %
From F/Party % F F/Party % F F/Party % F F/Party % F MPs female female
21.8.1943 0/49   1/12 8.3 0/12   0/2   75 1 1.3
28.9.1946 0/43   1/17 5.9 0/12   1/3 33.3 75 2 2.7
10.12.1949 0/48   1/55 1.8 0/19   0/1   123 1 0.8
28.4.1951* 0/54   0/52   0/17       123    
29.5.1954 0/59   0/47   0/17       123    
10.12.1955 0/49   0/57   0/18       124    
22.11.1958 0/47   0/58   0/19       124    
9.12.1961 0/62   0/45   0/17       124    
30.11.1963 0/52   0/52   0/20       124    
26.11.1966 0/41   1/61 1.6 0/21   0/1   124 1 0.8
25.10.1969 0/59   0/46   0/20       125    
2.12.1972 0/67   0/38   0/20       125    
18.5.1974* 1/66 1.5 0/40   0/21       127 1 0.8
13.12.1975* 0/36   0/68   0/23       127    
10.12.1977 0/38   0/67   0/19       124    
18.10.1980 3/51 5.9 0/54   0/20       125 3 2.4
5.3.1983* 6/75 8.0 0/33   0/17       125 6 4.8
1.12.1984 7/82 8.5 1/45 2.2 0/21       148 8 5.4
11.7.1987* 8/86 9.3 1/43 2.3 0/19       148 9 6.1
24.3.1990 7/78 9.0 3/55 5.5 0/14   0/1   148 10 6.8
13.3.1993 9/80 11.3 4/49 8.2 0/16   0/2   147 13 8.8
12.3.1994 10/80 12.5 4/49 8.2 0/16   0/2   147 14 9.5
26.3.1994 10/80 12.5 5/49 10.2 0/16   0/2   147 15 10.2
25.3.1995 9/79 11.4 5/50 10.0 0/16   0/2   147 14 9.5
2.3.1996 4/49 8.2 17/76 22.4 1/18 5.6 1/5 20.0 148 23 15.5
3.10.1998 16/67 23.9 15/64 23.4 2/16 12.5 0/1   148 33 22.3
12.8.2000 17/66 25.7 15/64 23.4 2/16 12.5 0/2   148 34 23.0
17.3.2001 18/67 26.9 15/63 23.8 2/16 12.5 0/2   148 35 23.6
10.11.2001 20/65 30.8 16/68 23.5 2/14 14.3 0/3   150 38 25.3
9.10.2004 20/60 33.3 15/75 20.0 2/12 16.7 0/3   150 37 24.7
24.11.2007 27/83 32.5 12/55 21.8 1/10 10.0 0/2   150 40 26.7
Notes: LIB includes UAP. NP includes CP, NCP and NPA. In 1975, 1977 and 1980 NP total includes CLP.
Dates in bold indicate election date, unbolded dates indicate by-elections.
* Indicates simultaneous dissolution.
Variations in party numbers caused by by-elections or defections which did not affect the number of women are not included, therefore the numbers and percentages are at the dates specified.

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