Women in Federal Parliament

Since the birth of our nation, 164 women have entered Federal Parliament.

These are their stories.

View by: Name Date State/Territory Milestones Close

Women in Federal Parliament

    Judith Adams
    2005
    WA

    Senator for Western Australia

    Judith Adams

    Lyn Allison
    1996
    VIC

    Senator for Victoria

    Lyn Allison

    Karen Andrews MP
    2010
    QLD

    Member for McPherson (Qld)

    Karen Andrews MP

    The Hon. Fran Bailey
    1990
    VIC

    Member for McEwen (Vic.), Member for McEwen (Vic.)

    The Hon. Fran Bailey

    Senator Catryna Bilyk
    2008
    TAS

    Senator for Tasmania

    Senator Catryna Bilyk

    The Hon. Sharon Bird MP
    2004
    NSW

    Member for Cunningham (NSW)

    The Hon. Sharon Bird MP

    The Hon. Bronwyn Bishop MP
    1987
    NSW

    Senator for New South Wales, Member for Mackellar (NSW)

    The Hon. Bronwyn Bishop MP

    The Hon. Julie Bishop MP
    1998
    WA

    Member for Curtin (WA)

    The Hon. Julie Bishop MP

    Lady Florence Bjelke-Petersen
    1981
    QLD

    Senator for Queensland

    Lady Florence Bjelke-Petersen

    Doris Blackburn
    1946
    VIC

    Member for Bourke (Vic.)

    Doris Blackburn

    Vicki Bourne
    1990
    NSW

    Senator for New South Wales

    Vicki Bourne

    Senator Sue Boyce
    2007
    QLD

    Senator for Queensland

    Senator Sue Boyce

    Dame Marie Breen
    1962
    VIC

    Senator for Victoria

    Dame Marie Breen

    Gai Brodtmann MP
    2010
    ACT

    Member for Canberra (ACT)

    Gai Brodtmann MP

    Senator Carol Brown
    2005
    TAS

    Senator for Tasmania

    Senator Carol Brown

    Kay Brownbill
    1966
    SA

    Member for Kingston (SA)

    Kay Brownbill

    Anna Burke MP
    1998
    VIC

    Member for Chisholm (Vic.)

    Anna Burke MP

    Dame Nancy Buttfield
    1955
    SA

    Senator for South Australia, Senator for South Australia

    Dame Nancy Buttfield

    Jodie Campbell
    2007
    TAS

    Member for Bass (Tas.)

    Jodie Campbell

    Senator Michaelia Cash
    2008
    WA

    Senator for Western Australia

    Senator Michaelia Cash

    Christabel Chamarette
    1992
    WA

    Senator for Western Australia

    Christabel Chamarette

    The Hon. Joan Child
    1974
    VIC

    Member for Henty (Vic.), Member for Henty (Vic.)

    The Hon. Joan Child

    Ruth Coleman
    1974
    WA

    Senator for Western Australia

    Ruth Coleman

    Senator the Hon. Jacinta Collins
    1995
    VIC

    Senator for Victoria, Senator for Victoria

    Senator the Hon. Jacinta Collins

    The Hon. Julie Collins MP
    2007
    TAS

    Member for Franklin (Tas.)

    The Hon. Julie Collins MP

    The Hon. Helen Coonan
    1996
    NSW

    Senator for New South Wales

    The Hon. Helen Coonan

    Ann Corcoran
    2000
    VIC

    Member for Isaacs (Vic.)

    Ann Corcoran

    The Hon. Mary Crawford
    1987
    QLD

    Member for Forde (Qld)

    The Hon. Mary Crawford

    The Hon. Janice Crosio
    1990
    NSW

    Member for Prospect (NSW)

    The Hon. Janice Crosio

    Senator Trish Crossin
    1998
    NT

    Senator for the Northern Territory

    Senator Trish Crossin

    The Hon. Dr Rosemary Crowley
    1983
    SA

    Senator for South Australia

    The Hon. Dr Rosemary Crowley

    Elaine Darling
    1980
    QLD

    Member for Lilley (Qld)

    Elaine Darling

    Margaret Deahm
    1993
    NSW

    Member for Macquarie (NSW)

    Margaret Deahm

    Kay Denman
    1993
    TAS

    Senator for Tasmania

    Kay Denman

    Trish Draper
    1996
    SA

    Member for Makin (SA)

    Trish Draper

    Irina Dunn
    1988
    NSW

    Senator for New South Wales

    Irina Dunn

    The Hon. Yvette D’Ath MP
    2007
    QLD

    Member for Petrie (Qld)

    The Hon. Yvette D’Ath MP

    Mary Easson
    1993
    NSW

    Member for Lowe (NSW)

    Mary Easson

    The Hon. Justine Elliot MP
    2004
    NSW

    Member for Richmond (NSW)

    The Hon. Justine Elliot MP

    Annette Ellis
    1996
    ACT

    Member for Namadgi (ACT) and Canberra (ACT)

    Annette Ellis

    The Hon. Kate Ellis MP
    2004
    SA

    Member for Adelaide (SA)

    The Hon. Kate Ellis MP

    Kay Elson
    1996
    QLD

    Member for Forde (Qld)

    Kay Elson

    The Hon. Wendy Fatin
    1983
    WA

    Member for Canning (WA) and Brand (WA)

    The Hon. Wendy Fatin

    Jeanette Ferris
    1996
    SA

    Senator for South Australia

    Jeanette Ferris

    Senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells
    2005
    NSW

    Senator for New South Wales

    Senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells

    Mary Jo Fisher
    2007
    SA

    Senator for South Australia

    Mary Jo Fisher

    The Hon. Christine Gallus
    1990
    SA

    Member for Hawker (SA) and Hindmarsh (SA)

    The Hon. Christine Gallus

    The Hon. Teresa Gambaro MP
    1996
    QLD

    Member for Petrie (Qld), Member for Brisbane (Qld)

    The Hon. Teresa Gambaro MP

    Joanna Gash MP
    1996
    NSW

    Member for Gilmore (NSW)

    Joanna Gash MP

    Jennie George
    2001
    NSW

    Member for Throsby (NSW)

    Jennie George

    Jane Gerick
    1998
    WA

    Member for Canning (WA)

    Jane Gerick

    Brenda Gibbs
    1996
    QLD

    Senator for Queensland

    Brenda Gibbs

    Patricia Giles
    1981
    WA

    Senator for Western Australia

    Patricia Giles

    The Hon. Julia Gillard MP
    1998
    VIC

    Member for Lalor (Vic.)

    The Hon. Julia Gillard MP

    Elizabeth Grace
    1996
    QLD

    Member for Lilley (Qld)

    Elizabeth Grace

    Sharon Grierson MP
    2001
    NSW

    Member for Newcastle (NSW)

    Sharon Grierson MP

    Natasha Griggs MP
    2010
    NT

    Member for Solomon (NT)

    Natasha Griggs MP

    The Hon. Dame Margaret Guilfoyle
    1971
    VIC

    Senator for Victoria

    The Hon. Dame Margaret Guilfoyle

    Janine Haines
    1977
    SA

    Senator for South Australia, Senator for South Australia

    Janine Haines

    Jill Hall MP
    1998
    NSW

    Member for Shortland (NSW)

    Jill Hall MP

    Pauline Hanson
    1996
    QLD

    Member for Oxley (Qld)

    Pauline Hanson

    Senator Sarah Hanson-Young
    2008
    SA

    Senator for South Australia

    Senator Sarah Hanson-Young

    Elizabeth Harvey
    1987
    SA

    Member for Hawker (SA)

    Elizabeth Harvey

    Jean Hearn
    1980
    TAS

    Senator for Tasmania

    Jean Hearn

    Marjorie Henzell
    1993
    QLD

    Member for Capricornia (Qld)

    Marjorie Henzell

    Kelly Hoare
    1998
    NSW

    Member for Charlton (NSW)

    Kelly Hoare

    Kay Hull
    1998
    NSW

    Member for Member for Riverina (NSW)

    Kay Hull

    Annette Hurley
    2005
    SA

    Senator for South Australia

    Annette Hurley

    Julia Irwin
    1998
    NSW

    Member for Fowler (NSW)

    Julia Irwin

    Sharryn Jackson
    2001
    WA

    Member for Hasluck (WA), Member for Hasluck (WA)

    Sharryn Jackson

    Carolyn Jakobsen
    1984
    WA

    Member for Cowan (WA)

    Carolyn Jakobsen

    Susan Jeanes
    1996
    SA

    Member for Kingston (SA)

    Susan Jeanes

    Jean Jenkins
    1987
    WA

    Senator for Western Australia

    Jean Jenkins

    Ricky Johnston
    1996
    WA

    Member for Canning (WA)

    Ricky Johnston

    The Hon. De-Anne Kelly
    1996
    QLD

    Member for Dawson (Qld)

    The Hon. De-Anne Kelly

    The Hon. Jackie Kelly
    1996
    NSW

    Member for Lindsay (NSW)

    The Hon. Jackie Kelly

    The Hon. Ros Kelly
    1980
    ACT

    Member for Canberra (ACT)

    The Hon. Ros Kelly

    Cheryl Kernot
    1990
    QLD

    Senator for Queensland, Member for Dickson (Qld)

    Cheryl Kernot

    The Hon. Catherine King MP
    2001
    VIC

    Member for Ballarat (Vic.)

    The Hon. Catherine King MP

    Linda Kirk
    2002
    SA

    Senator for South Australia

    Linda Kirk

    Susan Knowles
    1985
    WA

    Senator for Western Australia

    Susan Knowles

    Senator Helen Kroger
    2008
    VIC

    Senator for Victoria

    Senator Helen Kroger

    The Hon. Dr Carmen Lawrence
    1994
    WA

    Member for Fremantle (WA)

    The Hon. Dr Carmen Lawrence

    Meg Lees
    1990
    SA

    Senator for South Australia

    Meg Lees

    The Hon. Sussan Ley MP
    2001
    NSW

    Member for Farrer (NSW)

    The Hon. Sussan Ley MP

    Kirsten Livermore MP
    1998
    QLD

    Member for Capricornia (Qld)

    Kirsten Livermore MP

    Senator the Hon. Kate Lundy
    1996
    ACT

    Senator for the Australian Capital Territory

    Senator the Hon. Kate Lundy

    The Hon. Dame Enid Lyons
    1943
    TAS

    Member for Darwin (Tas.)

    The Hon. Dame Enid Lyons

    Sue Mackay
    1996
    TAS

    Senator for Tasmania

    Sue Mackay

    The Hon. Jenny Macklin MP
    1996
    VIC

    Member for Jagajaga (Vic.)

    The Hon. Jenny Macklin MP

    Dee Margetts
    1993
    WA

    Senator for Western Australia

    Dee Margetts

    Nola Marino MP
    2007
    WA

    Member for Forrest (WA)

    Nola Marino MP

    Louise Markus MP
    2004
    NSW

    Member for Greenway (NSW) and Member for Macquarie (NSW)

    Louise Markus MP

    Margaret May
    1998
    QLD

    Member for McPherson (Qld)

    Margaret May

    Helen Mayer
    1983
    VIC

    Member for Chisholm (Vic.)

    Helen Mayer

    Senator Anne McEwen
    2005
    SA

    Senator for South Australia

    Senator Anne McEwen

    Jann McFarlane
    1998
    WA

    Member for Stirling (WA)

    Jann McFarlane

    The Hon. Jeannette McHugh
    1983
    NSW

    Member for Phillip (NSW) and Grayndler (NSW)

    The Hon. Jeannette McHugh

    Senator Bridget McKenzie
    2011
    VIC

    Senator for Victoria

    Senator Bridget McKenzie

    The Hon. Maxine McKew
    2007
    NSW

    Member for Bennelong (NSW)

    The Hon. Maxine McKew

    Senator the Hon. Jan McLucas
    1999
    QLD

    Senator for Queensland

    Senator the Hon. Jan McLucas

    Jean Melzer
    1974
    VIC

    Senator for Victoria

    Jean Melzer

    Senator Christine Milne
    2005
    TAS

    Senator for Tasmania

    Senator Christine Milne

    Sophie Mirabella (formerly Panopoulos) MP
    2001
    VIC

    Member for Indi (Vic.)

    Sophie Mirabella (formerly Panopoulos) MP

    Senator Claire Moore
    2002
    QLD

    Senator for Queensland

    Senator Claire Moore

    The Hon. Judi Moylan MP
    1993
    WA

    Member for Pearce (WA)

    The Hon. Judi Moylan MP

    Senator Fiona Nash
    2005
    NSW

    Senator for New South Wales

    Senator Fiona Nash

    Belinda Neal
    1994
    NSW

    Senator for New South Wales, Member for Robertson (NSW)

    Belinda Neal

    Kerry Nettle
    2002
    NSW

    Senator for New South Wales

    Kerry Nettle

    The Hon. Jocelyn Newman
    1986
    TAS

    Senator for Tasmania

    The Hon. Jocelyn Newman

    Julie Owens MP
    2004
    NSW

    Member for Parramatta (NSW)

    Julie Owens MP

    The Hon. Michelle O’Byrne
    1998
    TAS

    Member for Bass (Tas.)

    The Hon. Michelle O’Byrne

    Kelly O’Dwyer MP
    2009
    VIC

    Member for Higgins (Vic.)

    Kelly O’Dwyer MP

    Deborah O’Neill MP
    2010
    NSW

    Member for Robertson (NSW)

    Deborah O’Neill MP

    The Hon. Melissa Parke MP
    2007
    WA

    Member for Fremantle (WA)

    The Hon. Melissa Parke MP

    The Hon. Dr Kay Patterson
    1987
    VIC

    Senator for Victoria

    The Hon. Dr Kay Patterson

    Senator Marise Payne
    1997
    NSW

    Senator for New South Wales

    Senator Marise Payne

    The Hon. Tanya Plibersek MP
    1998
    NSW

    Member for Sydney (NSW)

    The Hon. Tanya Plibersek MP

    Senator Helen Polley
    2005
    TAS

    Senator for Tasmania

    Senator Helen Polley

    Janet Powell
    1986
    VIC

    Senator for Victoria

    Janet Powell

    Senator Louise Pratt
    2008
    WA

    Senator for Western Australia

    Senator Louise Pratt

    Jane Prentice MP
    2010
    QLD

    Member for Ryan (Qld)

    Jane Prentice MP

    The Hon. Dame Annabelle Rankin
    1947
    QLD

    Senator for Queensland

    The Hon. Dame Annabelle Rankin

    Kerry Rea
    2007
    QLD

    Member for Bonner (Qld)

    Kerry Rea

    The Hon. Margaret Reid
    1981
    ACT

    Senator for the Australian Capital Territory

    The Hon. Margaret Reid

    The Hon. Margaret Reynolds
    1983
    QLD

    Senator for Queensland

    The Hon. Margaret Reynolds

    Senator Lee Rhiannon
    2011
    NSW

    Senator for New South Wales

    Senator Lee Rhiannon

    The Hon. Amanda Rishworth MP
    2007
    SA

    Member for Kingston (SA)

    The Hon. Amanda Rishworth MP

    Agnes Robertson
    1950
    WA

    Senator for Western Australia

    Agnes Robertson

    Michelle Rowland MP
    2010
    NSW

    Member for Greenway (NSW)

    Michelle Rowland MP

    The Hon. Nicola Roxon MP
    1998
    VIC

    Member for Gellibrand (Vic.)

    The Hon. Nicola Roxon MP

    Senator Anne Ruston
    2012
    SA

    Senator for South Australia

    Senator Anne Ruston

    The Hon. Susan Ryan
    1975
    ACT

    Senator for the Australian Capital Territory

    The Hon. Susan Ryan

    Janelle Saffin MP
    2007
    NSW

    Member for Page (NSW)

    Janelle Saffin MP

    Leonie Short
    2001
    QLD

    Member for Ryan (Qld)

    Leonie Short

    Senator Rachel Siewert
    2005
    WA

    Senator for Western Australia

    Senator Rachel Siewert

    Senator the Hon. Lisa Singh
    2011
    TAS

    Senator for Tasmania

    Senator the Hon. Lisa Singh

    Silvia Smith
    1993
    TAS

    Member for Bass (Tas.)

    Silvia Smith

    Laura Smyth MP
    2010
    VIC

    Member for La Trobe (Vic.)

    Laura Smyth MP

    Karin Sowada
    1991
    NSW

    Senator for New South Wales

    Karin Sowada

    Senator the Hon. Ursula Stephens
    2002
    NSW

    Senator for New South Wales

    Senator the Hon. Ursula Stephens

    The Hon. Dr Sharman Stone MP
    1996
    VIC

    Member for Murray (Vic.)

    The Hon. Dr Sharman Stone MP

    Natasha Stott Despoja
    1995
    SA

    Senator for South Australia

    Natasha Stott Despoja

    The Hon. Kathy Sullivan (formerly Martin)
    1974
    QLD

    Senator for Queensland, Member for Moncrieff (Qld)

    The Hon. Kathy Sullivan (formerly Martin)

    Karen Synon
    1997
    VIC

    Senator for Victoria

    Karen Synon

    Dame Dorothy Tangney
    1943
    WA

    Senator for Western Australia

    Dame Dorothy Tangney

    Senator the Hon. Lin Thorp
    2012
    TAS

    Senator for Tasmania

    Senator the Hon. Lin Thorp

    The Hon. Judith Troeth
    1993
    VIC

    Senator for Victoria

    The Hon. Judith Troeth

    Senator Anne Urquhart
    2011
    TAS

    Senator for Tasmania

    Senator Anne Urquhart

    The Hon. Danna Vale
    1996
    NSW

    Member for Hughes (NSW)

    The Hon. Danna Vale

    Jo Vallentine
    1985
    WA

    Senator for Western Australia

    Jo Vallentine

    Maria Vamvakinou MP
    2001
    VIC

    Member for Calwell (Vic.)

    Maria Vamvakinou MP

    The Hon. Amanda Vanstone
    1985
    SA

    Senator for South Australia

    The Hon. Amanda Vanstone

    Shirley Walters
    1975
    TAS

    Senator for Tasmania

    Shirley Walters

    Senator Larissa Waters
    2011
    QLD

    Senator for Queensland

    Senator Larissa Waters

    Ruth Webber
    2002
    WA

    Senator for Western Australia

    Ruth Webber

    Dame Ivy Wedgwood
    1950
    VIC

    Senator for Victoria

    Dame Ivy Wedgwood

    Andrea West
    1996
    QLD

    Member for Bowman (Qld)

    Andrea West

    Sue West
    1987
    NSW

    Senator for New South Wales, Senator for New South Wales

    Sue West

    Senator the Hon. Penny Wong
    2002
    SA

    Senator for South Australia

    Senator the Hon. Penny Wong

    The Hon. Trish Worth
    1993
    SA

    Member for Adelaide (SA)

    The Hon. Trish Worth

    Dana Wortley
    2005
    SA

    Senator for South Australia

    Dana Wortley

    Senator Penny Wright
    2011
    SA

    Senator for South Australia

    Senator Penny Wright

    Olive Zakharov
    1983
    VIC

    Senator for Victoria

    Olive Zakharov

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