Women in the Western Australian Legislative Assembly explained

There have been 66 women in the Western Australian Legislative Assembly since its establishment in 1890. Women have had the right to vote since 1899 and the right to stand as candidates since 1920.

The first successful female candidate for the Legislative Assembly was Edith Cowan, who was elected as the member for West Perth in 1921 representing the Nationalist Party of Australia. This was the first time a woman had won election anywhere in Australia. Cowan was defeated in 1924 but in 1925 May Holman was elected to the seat of Forrest in a by-election, becoming the first successful Labor woman in Australia. Holman was joined by Florence Cardell-Oliver of the Nationalist Party in 1936, who would become the first female cabinet minister. Cardell-Oliver's retirement in 1956 led to a period of absence for women, until June Craig of the Liberal Party was elected in 1974, since which time women have been continuously represented in the Assembly.

Hilda Turnbull was the first National Party woman elected to the Assembly in 1989, and only two women  - Liz Constable (1991 - 2013) and Janet Woollard (2001 - 2013)  - have been elected as independents. Adele Carles became the first Greens member of the Assembly in 2009, although she later quit the party. Carol Martin was the first Indigenous woman elected to the Assembly in 2001.

List of women in the Western Australian Legislative Assembly

Names in bold indicate women who have been appointed as Ministers and Parliamentary Secretaries during their time in Parliament. Names in italics indicate women who were first elected at a by-election. An asterisk (*) indicates that the member also served in the Legislative Council.

NamePartyElectoral DivisionPeriod of service
1Edith CowanNationalistWest Perth12 March 1921  - 22 March 1924 (defeated)
2May HolmanLaborForrest3 April 1925  - 18 March 1939 (died)
3Florence Cardell-OliverNationalist/LiberalSubiaco15 February 1936  - 7 April 1956 (retired)
4June CraigLiberalWellington30 March 1974  - 19 February 1983 (defeated)
5Pam BeggsLaborWhitford19 February 1983  - 6 February 1993 (defeated)
Pam BuchananLabor/IndependentPilbara
Ashburton
19 February 1983  - 4 February 1989
4 February 1989  - 3 March 1992
Yvonne HendersonLaborGosnells
Thornlie
19 February 1983  - 4 February 1989
4 February 1989  - 14 December 1996 (retired)
Jackie WatkinsLaborJoondalup
Wanneroo
19 February 1983  - 4 February 1989
4 February 1989  - 6 February 1993 (defeated)
9Carmen LawrenceLaborSubiaco
Glendalough
8 February 1986  - 4 February 1989
4 February 1989  - 14 February 1994 (resigned to contest HoR)
Judyth WatsonLaborCanning
Kenwick
8 February 1986  - 4 February 1989
4 February 1989  - 14 December 1996 (defeated)
11Cheryl EdwardesLiberalKingsley4 February 1989  - 26 February 2005 (retired)
Hilda TurnbullNationalCollie4 February 1989  - 10 February 2001 (defeated)
13Judy EdwardsLaborMaylands26 May 1990  - 6 September 2008 (retired)
14Liz ConstableIndependentFloreat
Churchlands
20 July 1991  - 14 December 1996
14 December 1996  - 9 March 2013 (retired)
15Kay HallahanLaborArmadale6 February 1993  - 14 December 1996 (retired)
June van de KlashorstLiberalSwan Hills6 February 1993  - 10 February 2001 (defeated)
Diana WarnockLaborPerth6 February 1993  - 10 February 2001 (retired)
18Michelle RobertsLaborGlendalough
Midland
19 March 1994  - 14 December 1996
14 December 1996  -
19Rhonda ParkerLiberalHelena
Ballajura
10 September 1994  - 14 December 1996
14 December 1996  - 10 February 2001 (defeated)
20Megan AnwylLaborKalgoorlie14 December 1996  - 10 February 2001 (defeated)
Katie Hodson-ThomasLiberalCarine14 December 1996  - 6 September 2008 (retired)
Monica HolmesLiberalSouthern River14 December 1996  - 10 February 2001 (defeated)
Alannah MacTiernanLaborArmadale14 December 1996  - 19 July 2010 (resigned to contest HoR)
Sheila McHaleLaborThornlie14 December 1996  - 6 September 2008 (retired)
25Dianne GuiseLaborWanneroo10 February 2001  - 6 September 2008 (defeated)
Carol MartinLaborKimberley10 February 2001  - 9 March 2013 (retired)
Margaret QuirkLaborGirrawheen
Landsdale
10 February 2001  - 13 March 2021
13 March 2021  -
Jaye RadisichLaborSwan Hills10 February 2001  - 6 September 2008 (retired)
Sue WalkerLiberal/IndependentNedlands10 February 2001  - 6 September 2008 (defeated)
Janet WoollardIndependentAlfred Cove10 February 2001  - 9 March 2013 (defeated)
31Judy HughesLaborKingsley26 February 2005  - 6 September 2008 (defeated)
32Lisa BakerLaborMaylands6 September 2008  -
Janine FreemanLaborNollamara6 September 2008  - 29 January 2021 (retired)
Liza HarveyLiberalScarborough6 September 2008  - 13 March 2021 (defeated)
Andrea MitchellLiberalKingsley6 September 2008  - 11 March 2017 (defeated)
Rita SaffiotiLaborWest Swan6 September 2008  -
37Adele CarlesGreens/IndependentFremantle16 May 2009  - 9 March 2013 (defeated)
38Mia DaviesNationalCentral Wheatbelt9 March 2013  -
Wendy DuncanNationalKalgoorlie9 March 2013  - 11 March 2017 (retired)
Eleni EvangelLiberalPerth9 March 2013  - 11 March 2017 (defeated)
Josie FarrerLaborKimberley9 March 2013  - 29 January 2021 (retired)
Glenys GodfreyLiberalBelmont9 March 2013  - 11 March 2017 (defeated)
Simone McGurkLaborFremantle9 March 2013  -
44Libby MettamLiberalVasse18 October 2014  -
45Robyn ClarkeLaborMurray-Wellington11 March 2017  -
Emily HamiltonLaborJoondalup11 March 2017  -
Lisa O'MalleyLaborBicton11 March 2017  -
Cassie RoweLaborBelmont11 March 2017  -
Amber-Jade SandersonLaborMorley11 March 2017  -
Jessica ShawLaborSwan Hills11 March 2017  -
Jessica StojkovskiLaborKingsley11 March 2017  -
Sabine WintonLaborWanneroo11 March 2017  -
53Alyssa HaydenLiberalDarling Range23 June 2018  - 13 March 2021 (defeated)
54Hannah BeazleyLaborVictoria Park13 March 2021  -
Caitlin CollinsLaborHillarys13 March 2021  -
Lara DaltonLaborGeraldton13 March 2021  -
Divina D'AnnaLaborKimberley13 March 2021  -
Kim GiddensLaborBateman13 March 2021  -
Meredith HammatLaborMirrabooka13 March 2021  -
Jodie HannsLaborCollie-Preston13 March 2021  -
Jane KelsbieLaborWarren-Blackwood13 March 2021  -
Ali KentLaborKalgoorlie13 March 2021  -
Lisa MundayLaborDawesville13 March 2021  -
Rebecca StephensLaborAlbany13 March 2021  -
Katrina StrattonLaborNedlands13 March 2021  -
Christine TonkinLaborChurchlands13 March 2021  -
67Merome BeardNationalNorth West Central17 September 2022  -
68Magenta MarshallLaborRockingham29 July 2023  -

Timeline

ImageSize = width:1000 height:auto barincrement:12PlotArea = top:10 bottom:80 right:200 left:20AlignBars = early

DateFormat = yyyyPeriod = from:1920 till:2025TimeAxis = orientation:horizontalScaleMajor = unit:year increment:5 start:1920

Colors = id:NA value:skyblue legend: Nationalist Party of Australia id:AL value:red legend: Australian Labor Party id:LP value:blue legend: Liberal Party of Australia id:NP value:teal legend: National Party of Australia id:AG value:brightgreen legend: Australian Greens id:ID value:gray(0.6) legend: Independent

Legend = columns:3 left:150 top:50 columnwidth:200

BarData = barset:MLAs bar:CardellOliver barset:MLAs2 bar:Buchanan barset:MLAs3 bar:Carles barset:MLAs4

PlotData= width:5 align:left fontsize:S shift:(5,-4) anchor:till barset:MLAs from:1921 till:1924 color:NA text:"Edith Cowan (1921–1924)" from:1925 till:1939 color:AL text:"May Holman (1925–1939)" bar:CardellOliver from:1936 till:1945 color:NA text:" from:1945 till:1956 color:LP text:"Florence Cardell-Oliver (1936–1956)" barset:MLAs2 from:1974 till:1983 color:LP text:"June Craig (1974–1983)" from:1983 till:1993 color:AL text:"Pam Beggs (1983–1993)" bar:Buchanan from:1983 till:1991 color:AL text:" from:1991 till:1992 color:ID text:"Pam Buchanan (1983–1992)" barset:MLAs3 from:1983 till:1996 color:AL text:"Yvonne Henderson (1983–1996)" from:1983 till:1993 color:AL text:"Jackie Watkins (1983–1993)" from:1986 till:1994 color:AL text:"Carmen Lawrence (1986–1994)" from:1986 till:1996 color:AL text:"Judyth Watson (1986–1996)" from:1989 till:2005 color:LP text:"Cheryl Edwardes (1989–2005)" from:1989 till:2001 color:NP text:"Hilda Turnbull (1989–2001)" from:1990 till:2008 color:AL text:"Judy Edwards (1990–2008)" from:1991 till:2013 color:ID text:"Liz Constable (1991–2013)" from:1993 till:1996 color:AL text:"Kay Hallahan (1993–1996)" from:1993 till:2001 color:LP text:"June van der Klashorst (1993–2001)" from:1993 till:2001 color:AL text:"Diana Warnock (1993–2001)" from:1994 till:2022 color:AL text:"Michelle Roberts (1994–present)" from:1994 till:2001 color:LP text:"Rhonda Parker (1994–2001)" from:1996 till:2001 color:AL text:"Megan Anwyl (1996–2001)" from:1996 till:2008 color:LP text:"Katie Hodson-Thomas (1996–2008)" from:1996 till:2001 color:LP text:"Monica Holmes (1996–2001)" from:1996 till:2010 color:AL text:"Alannah MacTiernan (1996–2010)" from:1996 till:2008 color:AL text:"Sheila McHale (1996–2008)" from:2001 till:2008 color:AL text:"Dianne Guise (2001–2008)" from:2001 till:2013 color:AL text:"Carol Martin (2001–2013)" from:2001 till:2024 color:AL text:"Margaret Quirk (2001–present)" from:2001 till:2008 color:AL text:"Jaye Radisich (2001–2008)" from:2001 till:2008 color:LP text:"Sue Walker (2001–2008)" from:2001 till:2013 color:ID text:"Janet Woollard (2001–2013)" from:2005 till:2008 color:AL text:"Judy Hughes (2005–2008)" from:2008 till:2024 color:AL text:"Lisa Baker (2008–present)" from:2008 till:2021 color:AL text:"Janine Freeman (2008–2021)" from:2008 till:2021 color:LP text:"Liza Harvey (2008–2021)" from:2008 till:2017 color:LP text:"Andrea Mitchell (2008–2017)" from:2008 till:2024 color:AL text:"Rita Saffioti (2008–present)" bar:Carles from:2009 till:2010 color:AG text:" from:2010 till:2013 color:ID text:"Adele Carles (2009–2013)" barset:MLAs4 from:2013 till:2014 color:NP text:"Mia Davies (2013–present)" from:2013 till:2017 color:NP text:"Wendy Duncan (2013–2017)" from:2013 till:2017 color:LP text:"Eleni Evangel (2013–2017)" from:2013 till:2021 color:AL text:"Josie Farrer (2013–2021)" from:2013 till:2017 color:LP text:"Glenys Godfrey (2013–2017)" from:2013 till:2024 color:AL text:"Simone McGurk (2013–present)" from:2014 till:2024 color:LP text:"Libby Mettam (2014–present)" from:2017 till:2024 color:AL text:"Robyn Clarke (2017–present)" from:2017 till:2024 color:AL text:"Emily Hamilton (2017–present)" from:2017 till:2024 color:AL text:"Lisa O'Malley (2017–present)" from:2017 till:2024 color:AL text:"Cassie Rowe (2017–present)" from:2017 till:2024 color:AL text:"Amber-Jade Sanderson (2017–present)" from:2017 till:2024 color:AL text:"Jessica Shaw (2017–present)" from:2017 till:2024 color:AL text:"Jessica Stojkovski (2017–present)" from:2017 till:2024 color:AL text:"Sabine Winton (2017–present)" from:2018 till:2021 color:LP text:"Alyssa Hayden (2018–2021)" from:2021 till:2024 color:AL text:"Hannah Beazley (2021–present)" from:2021 till:2024 color:AL text:"Caitlin Collins (2021–present)" from:2021 till:2024 color:AL text:"Lara Dalton (2021–present)" from:2021 till:2024 color:AL text:"Divina D'Anna (2021–present)" from:2021 till:2024 color:AL text:"Kim Giddens (2021–present)" from:2021 till:2024 color:AL text:"Meredith Hammat (2021–present)" from:2021 till:2024 color:AL text:"Jodie Hanns (2021–present)" from:2021 till:2024 color:AL text:"Jane Kelsbie (2021–present)" from:2021 till:2024 color:AL text:"Ali Kent (2021–present)" from:2021 till:2024 color:AL text:"Lisa Munday (2021–present)" from:2021 till:2024 color:AL text:"Rebecca Stephens (2021–present)" from:2021 till:2024 color:AL text:"Katrina Stratton (2021–present)" from:2021 till:2024 color:AL text:"Christine Tonkin (2021–present)" from:2022 till:2024 color:AL text:"Merome Beard (2022–present)" from:2023 till:2024 color:AL text:"Magenta Marshall (2023–present)" barset:skip

Proportion of women in the Assembly

Numbers and proportions are as they were directly after the relevant election and do not take into account by-elections, defections or other changes in membership. The Liberal column also includes that party's predecessors, the Nationalist and United parties and the Liberal and Country League. The National column includes the various National Party splinter groups in the 1920s and 1980s.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Women in the Western Australian Legislative Assembly".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.

Term colspan=3Labor colspan=3Liberal colspan=3National colspan=3OthersTotal
WomenTotal%WomenTotal%WomenTotal%WomenTotal%WomenTotal%
1921–1924 align=right0 align=right17 align=right0.0% align=right1 align=right10 align=right10.0% align=right0 align=right16 align=right0.0% align=right0 align=right7 align=right0.0%1 50 2.0%
1924–1927 align=right0 align=right27 align=right0.0% align=right0 align=right9 align=right0.0% align=right0 align=right13 align=right0.0% align=right0 align=right1 align=right0.0%0 50 0.0%
1927–1930 align=right1 align=right27 align=right3.7% align=right0 align=right16 align=right0.0% align=right0 align=right7 align=right0.0% align=right0 align=right0 align=right0.0%1 50 2.0%
1930–1933 align=right1 align=right23 align=right4.3% align=right0 align=right16 align=right0.0% align=right0 align=right10 align=right0.0% align=right0 align=right1 align=right0.0%1 50 2.0%
1933–1936 align=right1 align=right30 align=right3.3% align=right0 align=right8 align=right0.0% align=right0 align=right11 align=right0.0% align=right0 align=right1 align=right0.0%1 50 2.0%
1936–1939 align=right1 align=right26 align=right3.8% align=right1 align=right8 align=right12.5% align=right0 align=right13 align=right0.0% align=right0 align=right3 align=right0.0%2 50 4.0%
1939–1943 align=right1 align=right27 align=right3.7% align=right1 align=right7 align=right14.2% align=right0 align=right12 align=right0.0% align=right0 align=right4 align=right0.0%2 50 4.0%
1943–1947 align=right0 align=right30 align=right0.0% align=right1 align=right7 align=right14.2% align=right0 align=right10 align=right0.0% align=right0 align=right3 align=right0.0%1 50 2.0%
1947–1950 align=right0 align=right23 align=right0.0% align=right1 align=right13 align=right7.7% align=right0 align=right12 align=right0.0% align=right0 align=right1 align=right0.0%1 50 2.0%
1950–1953 align=right0 align=right23 align=right0.0% align=right1 align=right15 align=right6.7% align=right0 align=right9 align=right0.0% align=right0 align=right3 align=right0.0%1 50 2.0%
1953–1956 align=right0 align=right26 align=right0.0% align=right1 align=right15 align=right6.7% align=right0 align=right9 align=right0.0% align=right0 align=right0 align=right0.0%1 50 2.0%
1956–1959 align=right0 align=right29 align=right0.0% align=right0 align=right11 align=right0.0% align=right0 align=right8 align=right0.0% align=right0 align=right2 align=right0.0%0 50 0.0%
1959–1962 align=right0 align=right23 align=right0.0% align=right0 align=right17 align=right0.0% align=right0 align=right8 align=right0.0% align=right0 align=right2 align=right0.0%0 50 0.0%
1962–1965 align=right0 align=right24 align=right0.0% align=right0 align=right18 align=right0.0% align=right0 align=right8 align=right0.0% align=right0 align=right0 align=right0.0%0 50 0.0%
1965–1968 align=right0 align=right21 align=right0.0% align=right0 align=right21 align=right0.0% align=right0 align=right8 align=right0.0% align=right0 align=right0 align=right0.0%0 50 0.0%
1968–1971 align=right0 align=right23 align=right0.0% align=right0 align=right19 align=right0.0% align=right0 align=right9 align=right0.0% align=right0 align=right0 align=right0.0%0 51 0.0%
1971–1974 align=right0 align=right26 align=right0.0% align=right0 align=right17 align=right0.0% align=right0 align=right8 align=right0.0% align=right0 align=right0 align=right0.0%0 51 0.0%
1974–1977 align=right0 align=right22 align=right0.0% align=right1 align=right23 align=right4.3% align=right0 align=right6 align=right0.0% align=right0 align=right0 align=right0.0%1 51 2.0%
1977–1980 align=right0 align=right22 align=right0.0% align=right1 align=right27 align=right3.7% align=right0 align=right6 align=right0.0% align=right0 align=right0 align=right0.0%1 55 1.8%
1980–1983 align=right0 align=right23 align=right0.0% align=right1 align=right26 align=right3.8% align=right0 align=right6 align=right0.0% align=right0 align=right0 align=right0.0%1 55 1.8%
1983–1986 align=right4 align=right32 align=right12.5% align=right0 align=right20 align=right0.0% align=right0 align=right5 align=right0.0% align=right0 align=right0 align=right0.0%4 57 7.0%
1986–1989 align=right6 align=right32 align=right18.8% align=right0 align=right19 align=right0.0% align=right0 align=right6 align=right0.0% align=right0 align=right0 align=right0.0%6 57 10.5%
1989–1993 align=right6 align=right31 align=right19.4% align=right1 align=right20 align=right5.0% align=right1 align=right6 align=right16.7% align=right0 align=right0 align=right0.0%8 57 14.0%
1993–1996 align=right6 align=right24 align=right25.0% align=right2 align=right26 align=right7.7% align=right1 align=right6 align=right16.7% align=right1 align=right1 align=right100.0%10 57 17.5%
1996–2001 align=right6 align=right19 align=right31.6% align=right5 align=right29 align=right17.2% align=right1 align=right6 align=right16.7% align=right1 align=right3 align=right33.3%13 57 22.8%
2001–2005 align=right8 align=right32 align=right25.0% align=right3 align=right16 align=right18.8% align=right0 align=right5 align=right0.0% align=right2 align=right4 align=right50.0%13 57 22.8%
2005–2008 align=right9 align=right32 align=right28.1% align=right2 align=right18 align=right11.1% align=right0 align=right5 align=right0.0% align=right2 align=right2 align=right100.0%13 57 22.8%
2008–2013 align=right7 align=right28 align=right25.0% align=right2 align=right24 align=right8.3% align=right0 align=right4 align=right0.0% align=right2 align=right3 align=right66.7%11 59 18.6%
2013–2017 align=right7 align=right21 align=right33.3% align=right4 align=right31 align=right12.9% align=right2 align=right7 align=right28.6% align=right0 align=right0 align=right0.0%13 59 22.0%
2017–2021 align=right15 align=right41 align=right36.6% align=right2 align=right13 align=right15.4% align=right1 align=right5 align=right20.0% align=right0 align=right0 align=right0.0%18 59 30.5%
2021 align=right26 align=right53 align=right49.0% align=right1 align=right2 align=right50.0% align=right1 align=right4 align=right25.0% align=right0 align=right0 align=right0.0%28 59 47.4%