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Location: Home » Safety, Leadership and Consultation  » Women's National Leadership Initiative  » Women in Politics

Women in Politics

As of 11 October 2005, there were 64 women in the Commonwealth Parliament, 27 in the Senate (Upper House) and 37 in the House of Representatives (Lower House). This brings women's participation in Parliament to 28.3% rising from 25.4% following the 1998 Federal election and 14% following the 1993 election. This rate is almost double the international average of 16% (IPU figure as at 20 September 2005).

More information on women in Parliament is located at the following sites:

Current listing of women in the Senate and the House of Representatives
www.aph.gov.au/

Women Members and Senators since 1901
www.aph.gov.au/library/parl/hist/histinfo.htm

Historical note on the first women in Australian parliaments
www.aph.gov.au/library/pubs/rn/1996-97/97rn55.htm

A brief history of women in the Senate
http://www.aph.gov.au/senate/pubs/briefs/pdf/brief3.pdf

Frequently Asked Questions about the first, youngest, oldest etc in Australian federal politics
www.aph.gov.au/library/pubs/rn/1997-98/98rn42.htm

Information about women in parliaments around the world
www.ipu.org/wmn-e/world.htm