Women in the Tasmanian House of Assembly

There have been 35 women in the Tasmanian House of Assembly since its establishment in 1856. Women have had the right to vote since 1903 and the right to stand as candidates since 1921.

The first successful female candidates for the House of Assembly were Amelia Best and Mabel Miller, both Liberals, who were elected in 1955. In 1962, Miller (Best had lost election twice, in 1956 and 1959) was joined by the first Labor woman, Lynda Heaven. In 1964, both Miller and Heaven left the House, and women were not represented again until 1976, when Labor's Gill James was elected. Since then women have been continuously represented in the House.

Christine Milne and Di Hollister were the first women elected to represent the Greens. To date no women have been elected as independent members, although Mary Willey left the Labor Party at the end of her term. Kathryn Hay is the only Indigenous woman to have been elected to the Tasmanian parliament.

Lara Giddings became the first female Premier of Tasmania on 24 January 2011.

With the re-election of Madeleine Ogilvie on 11 September 2019, the House of Assembly became the first parliamentary chamber in Australian history to have a majority of women members, with 13 of the 25 members being female.[1]

List of women in the Tasmanian House of 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 recount, and * symbolises members that have sat as members in both the Legislative Assembly and the Legislative Council.

# Name Party Electoral Division Period of service
1 Amelia Best Liberal Wilmot 19 February 1955 13 October 1956 (defeated)
24 November 1958 2 May 1959 (defeated)
Mabel Miller Liberal Franklin 19 February 1955 2 May 1964 (defeated)
3 Lynda Heaven Labor Franklin 2 March 1962 2 May 1964 (defeated)
4 Gill James Labor Bass 11 December 1976 8 February 1986 (defeated)
1 February 1992 20 July 2002 (retired)
5 Mary Willey Labor/Independent Bass 28 July 1979 27 May 1982 (defeated)
6 Carmel Holmes Liberal Denison 25 June 1984 8 February 1986 (defeated)
7 Judy Jackson Labor Denison 8 February 1986 18 March 2006 (retired)
Fran Bladel Labor Franklin 8 February 1986 9 April 2002 (retired)
9 Christine Milne Greens Lyons 13 May 1989 29 August 1998 (defeated)
Di Hollister Greens Braddon 13 May 1989 29 August 1998 (defeated)
11 Carole Cains Liberal Braddon 1 February 1992 24 February 1996 (defeated)
17 July 1997 29 August 1998 (defeated)
Sue Napier Liberal Bass 1 February 1992 19 March 2010 (retired)
13 Peg Putt Greens Denison 2 March 1992 7 July 2008 (resigned)
14 Denise Swan Liberal Lyons 12 December 1995 20 July 2002 (defeated)
15 Lara Giddings Labor Lyons
Franklin
24 February 1996 29 August 1998 (defeated)
20 July 2002 3 March 2018 (retired)
Paula Wriedt Labor Franklin 24 February 1996 18 January 2009 (resigned)
17 Kathryn Hay Labor Bass 20 July 2002 18 March 2006 (retired)
18 Heather Butler Labor Lyons 10 May 2005 20 March 2010 (defeated)
19 Michelle O'Byrne Labor Bass 18 March 2006
Lisa Singh Labor Denison 18 March 2006 20 March 2010 (defeated)
21 Cassy O'Connor Greens Denison/Clark 21 July 2008
22 Elise Archer Liberal Denison/Clark 20 March 2010
Jacquie Petrusma Liberal Franklin 20 March 2010
Rebecca White Labor Lyons 20 March 2010
25 Sarah Courtney Liberal Bass 15 March 2014
Madeleine Ogilvie Labor/Independent Denison/Clark 15 March 2014 3 March 2018 (defeated)
13 September 2019
Joan Rylah Liberal Braddon 15 March 2014 3 March 2018 (defeated)
26 February 2019 27 July 2020 (resigned)
28 Andrea Dawkins Greens Bass 9 June 2015 3 March 2018 (defeated)
29 Rosalie Woodruff Greens Franklin 17 August 2015
30 Jen Butler Labor Lyons 3 March 2018
Anita Dow Labor Braddon 3 March 2018
Ella Haddad Labor Denison/Clark 3 March 2018
Sue Hickey Liberal Denison/Clark 3 March 2018
Jennifer Houston Labor Bass 3 March 2018
Alison Standen Labor Franklin 3 March 2018

Timeline

Alison StandenJennifer HoustonSue HickeyElla HaddadAnita DowJen ButlerRosalie WoodruffAndrea DawkinsJoan RylahMadeleine OgilvieSarah CourtneyRebecca WhiteJacquie PetrusmaElise ArcherCassy O'ConnorLisa SinghMichelle O'ByrneHeather ButlerKathryn HayPaula WriedtLara GiddingsDenise SwanPeg PuttSue NapierCarole CainsChristine MilneDi HollisterJudy JacksonFran BladelCarmel HolmesMary WilleyGill JamesLynda HeavenMabel MillerAmelia Best

References

  1. McIntyre, Damian (16 March 2018). "Tasmania first state to return female-majority parliament". ABC News. Retrieved 11 October 2019.
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