Women And Government In Australia
From the turn of the 20th century, women have participated in government in Australia. Following federation, the government of the newly formed Commonwealth of Australia passed the Commonwealth Franchise Act 1902 allowing most women to both vote and stand in the federal election of 1903. South Australia and Western Australia granted women the vote before federation, and the states of New South Wales, Tasmania, Queensland and Victoria also passed legislation allowing women to participate in government at the state and local levels following federation. Indigenous Australian women did not achieve suffrage at all levels of government and in all states and territories until 1962.
Although Australia was the first country to allow women to stand in elections, women were not successful at a federal election until 1943. In general, women have been slow to enter all levels of politics in Australia. Only South Australia has not had a female Premier. The first female Premier was Carmen Lawrence, leading Western Australia for three years until 1993. Currently, a female Premier leads the state of Tasmania (Lara Giddings), and Chief Minister Katy Gallagher leads the Australian Capital Territory.
Julia Gillard became Australia's first female Prime Minister on 24 June 2010.
Read more about Women And Government In Australia: Women's Suffrage, See Also
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