Women in the Western Australian Legislative Assembly

There have been 53 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 (19912013) and Janet Woollard (20012013) have been elected as independents. Adele Carles became the first Greens member of the Assembly in 2009, although she later quit the party. Only two Indigenous women have been elected to the Western Australia parliament, starting with Carol Martin 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.

# Name Party Electoral Division Period of service
1 Edith Cowan Nationalist West Perth 12 March 1921 22 March 1924 (defeated)
2 May Holman Labor Forrest 3 April 1925 18 March 1939 (died)
3 Florence Cardell-Oliver Nationalist/Liberal Subiaco 15 February 1936 7 April 1956 (retired)
4 June Craig Liberal Wellington 30 March 1974 19 February 1983 (defeated)
5 Pam Beggs Labor Whitford 19 February 1983 6 February 1993 (defeated)
Pam Buchanan Labor/Independent Pilbara
Ashburton
19 February 1983 4 February 1989
4 February 1989 3 March 1992
Yvonne Henderson Labor Gosnells
Thornlie
19 February 1983 4 February 1989
4 February 1989 14 December 1996 (retired)
Jackie Watkins Labor Joondalup
Wanneroo
19 February 1983 4 February 1989
4 February 1989 6 February 1993 (defeated)
9 Carmen Lawrence Labor Subiaco
Glendalough
8 February 1986 4 February 1989
4 February 1989 14 February 1994 (resigned to contest HoR)
Judyth Watson Labor Canning
Kenwick
8 February 1986 4 February 1989
4 February 1989 14 December 1996 (defeated)
11 Cheryl Edwardes Liberal Kingsley 4 February 1989 26 February 2005 (retired)
Hilda Turnbull National Collie 4 February 1989 10 February 2001 (defeated)
13 Judy Edwards Labor Maylands 26 May 1990 6 September 2008 (retired)
14 Liz Constable Independent Floreat
Churchlands
20 July 1991 14 December 1996
14 December 1996 9 March 2013 (retired)
15 Kay Hallahan* Labor Armadale 6 February 1993 14 December 1996 (retired)
June van de Klashorst Liberal Swan Hills 6 February 1993 10 February 2001 (defeated)
Diana Warnock Labor Perth 6 February 1993 10 February 2001 (retired)
18 Michelle Roberts Labor Glendalough
Midland
19 March 1994 14 December 1996
14 December 1996
19 Rhonda Parker Liberal Helena
Ballajura
10 September 1994 14 December 1996
14 December 1996 10 February 2001 (defeated)
20 Megan Anwyl Labor Kalgoorlie 14 December 1996 10 February 2001 (defeated)
Katie Hodson-Thomas Liberal Carine 14 December 1996 6 September 2008 (retired)
Monica Holmes Liberal Southern River 14 December 1996 10 February 2001 (defeated)
Alannah MacTiernan* Labor Armadale 14 December 1996 19 July 2010 (resigned to contest HoR)
Sheila McHale Labor Thornlie 14 December 1996 6 September 2008 (retired)
25 Dianne Guise Labor Wanneroo 10 February 2001 6 September 2008 (defeated)
Carol Martin Labor Kimberley 10 February 2001 9 March 2013 (retired)
Margaret Quirk Labor Girrawheen 10 February 2001
Jaye Radisich Labor Swan Hills 10 February 2001 6 September 2008 (retired)
Sue Walker Liberal/Independent Nedlands 10 February 2001 6 September 2008 (defeated)
Janet Woollard Independent Alfred Cove 10 February 2001 9 March 2013 (defeated)
31 Judy Hughes Labor Kingsley 26 February 2005 6 September 2008 (defeated)
32 Lisa Baker Labor Maylands 6 September 2008
Janine Freeman Labor Nollamara 6 September 2008
Liza Harvey Liberal Scarborough 6 September 2008
Andrea Mitchell Liberal Kingsley 6 September 2008 11 March 2017 (defeated)
Rita Saffioti Labor West Swan 6 September 2008
37 Adele Carles Greens/Independent Fremantle 16 May 2009 9 March 2013 (defeated)
38 Mia Davies* National Central Wheatbelt 9 March 2013
Wendy Duncan* National Kalgoorlie 9 March 2013 11 March 2017 (retired)
Eleni Evangel Liberal Perth 9 March 2013 11 March 2017 (defeated)
Josie Farrer Labor Kimberley 9 March 2013
Glenys Godfrey Liberal Belmont 9 March 2013 11 March 2017 (defeated)
Simone McGurk Labor Fremantle 9 March 2013
44 Libby Mettam Liberal Vasse 18 October 2014
45 Robyn Clarke Labor Murray-Wellington 11 March 2017
Emily Hamilton Labor Joondalup 11 March 2017
Lisa O'Malley Labor Bicton 11 March 2017
Cassie Rowe Labor Belmont 11 March 2017
Amber-Jade Sanderson* Labor Morley 11 March 2017
Jessica Shaw Labor Swan Hills 11 March 2017
Jessica Stojkovski Labor Kingsley 11 March 2017
Sabine Winton Labor Wanneroo 11 March 2017
53 Alyssa Hayden* Liberal Darling Range 23 June 2018

Timeline

Alyssa HaydenSabine WintonJessica StojkovskiJessica ShawAmber-Jade SandersonCassie RoweLisa O'MalleyEmily Hamilton (politician)Robyn ClarkeLibby MettamSimone McGurkGlenys GodfreyJosie FarrerEleni EvangelWendy DuncanMia DaviesAdele CarlesRita SaffiotiAndrea Mitchell (politician)Liza HarveyJanine FreemanLisa Baker (Australian politician)Judy HughesJanet WoollardSue WalkerJaye RadisichMargaret QuirkCarol MartinDianne GuiseSheila McHaleAlannah MacTiernanMonica HolmesKatie Hodson-ThomasMegan AnwylRhonda ParkerMichelle RobertsDiana WarnockJune van der KlashorstKay HallahanLiz ConstableJudy EdwardsHilda TurnbullCheryl EdwardesJudyth WatsonCarmen LawrenceJackie WatkinsYvonne HendersonPam BuchananPam BeggsJune CraigFlorence Cardell-OliverMay HolmanEdith Cowan

See also

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