This International Women's Day, About the House is celebrating remarkable firsts achieved by women political leaders in the Federal Parliament.
First women elected to Parliament
Enid Lyons was elected to the House of Representatives on 21 August 1943. She also held the position of Vice-President of the Executive Council from 19 December 1949 to 7 March 1951, making her the first woman to serve in federal cabinet. Dame Enid Lyons retired on 19 March 1951.
Read Dame Enid Lyons AD GBE's first speech to the House on 29 September 1943.
Pictured: Dame Enid Lyons
Senator Dorothy Tangney was elected to the Senate on 21 August 1943 and served to 19 March 1951 as Senator for WA. Tangney was re-elected and then served from 28 April 1951 to 30 June 1968.
Read Former Senator Dorothy Tangney's first speech to the Senate on 24 September 1943.
First woman to become Governor-General
Quentin Bryce became Australia’s first woman Governor-General on 5 September 2008.
Read more on the Honourable Dame Quentin Bryce AD CVO.
First woman to become Prime Minister
Julia Gillard became the first woman Prime Minister on 24 June 2010. She became the first elected woman Prime Minister following the federal election on 21 August 2010.
Read more on the Honourable Julia Gillard MP.
First woman Speaker of the House of Representatives
Joan Child served as Speaker of the House of Representatives from 11 February 1986 to 5 June 1987, and from 14 September 1987 to 28 August 1989.
Read more on the Honourable Joan Child AO.
Pictured: The Hon. Joan Child, AO
First woman President of the Senate
Senator Margaret Reid served as President of the Senate from 20 August 1996 to 18 August 2002.
Read more on Former Senator Margaret Reid.
First Indigenous woman senator
Senator Nova Peris was elected to the Senate at the 2013 half-Senate election, as Senator for the NT, and served until her retirement on 9 May 2016. She is a descendant of the Gija, Yawaru and Iwatja peoples.
Read Former Senator Nova Peris OAM's first speech.
First Indigenous woman member of the House of Representatives
Linda Burney, a Wiradjuri woman, was elected to the House of Representatives on 2 July 2016.
Read the Hon Linda Burney MP's first speech.
Pictured: The Hon Linda Burney MP
First Muslim woman member of the House of Representatives
Dr. Anne Aly, was elected to the House of Representatives in 2016, and re-elected in 2019.
Read Dr. Anne Aly MP's first speech.
First Muslim woman senator
Senator Mehreen Faruqi, was elected to the Senate in 2018 as Senator for NSW.
Read Senator Mahreen Faruqi's first speech.
Pictured: Senator Mehreen Faruqi