Women in the Western Australian Legislative Council

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There have been 54 women in the Western Australian Legislative Council since its creation in 1832. 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 Council was Ruby Hutchison, who was elected as one of the members for Metropolitan-Suburban Province in 1954, representing the Labor Party. Since then, women have been continuously represented in the Legislative Council; when Hutchison retired in 1971, she was succeeded by Lyla Elliott. Margaret McAleer became the first Liberal woman in the Council in 1974, and Winifred Piesse became the first Country Party woman in 1977.

In 1997, the first women representing minor parties were elected to the Council: Helen Hodgson for the Australian Democrats, and Chrissy Sharp and Giz Watson for the Greens WA.

List of women in the Western Australian Legislative Council[]

Names in bold indicate women who have been appointed as Ministers and Parliamentary Secretaries during their time in Parliament. Names in italics indicate entry into Parliament through a by-election or by appointment and * symbolises members that have sat as members in both the Legislative Council and the Legislative Assembly.

# Name Party Province/Region Period of service
1 Ruby Hutchison Labor Suburban
North-East Metropolitan
22 May 1954 – 22 May 1965
22 May 1965 – 21 May 1971 (retired)
2 Lyla Elliott Labor North-East Metropolitan 22 May 1971 – 21 May 1986 (retired)
3 Margaret McAleer Liberal Upper West
Agricultural
22 May 1974 – 22 May 1989
22 May 1989 – 21 May 1993 (retired)
Grace Vaughan Labor South-East Metropolitan 22 May 1974 – 21 May 1980 (defeated)
5 Winifred Piesse NCP/National Lower Central 22 May 1977 – 21 May 1983 (defeated)
6 Kay Hallahan* Labor South-East Metropolitan
East Metropolitan
22 May 1983 – 22 May 1989
22 May 1989 – 13 January 1993 (resigned to contest LA)
7 Beryl Jones Labor Lower West
South West
22 May 1986 – 22 May 1989
22 May 1989 – 21 May 1993 (retired)
8 Cheryl Davenport Labor South Metropolitan 22 May 1989 – 21 May 2001 (retired)
Muriel Patterson Liberal South West 22 May 1989 – 21 May 2001 (retired)
10 Diane Airey Liberal South Metropolitan 2 February 1993 – 21 May 1993 (term expired)
Valma Ferguson Labor East Metropolitan 2 February 1993 – 21 May 1993 (term expired)
4 April 1995 – 21 May 1997 (retired)
12 Alannah MacTiernan* Labor East Metropolitan
North Metropolitan
22 May 1993 – 21 November 1996 (resigned to contest LA)
22 May 2017 –
Barbara Scott Liberal South Metropolitan 22 May 1993 – 21 May 2009 (retired)
14 Helen Hodgson Democrats North Metropolitan 22 May 1997 – 21 May 2001 (defeated)
Ljiljanna Ravlich Labor East Metropolitan
North Metropolitan
22 May 1997 – 21 May 2013
22 May 2013 – 10 March 2015 (resigned)
Chrissy Sharp Greens South West 22 May 1997 – 21 May 2005 (retired)
Giz Watson Greens North Metropolitan 22 May 1997 – 21 May 2013 (defeated)
18 Kate Doust Labor South Metropolitan 22 May 2001 –
Sue Ellery Labor South Metropolitan 22 May 2001 –
Adele Farina Labor South West 22 May 2001 – 21 May 2021 (retired)
Dee Margetts Greens Agricultural 22 May 2001 – 21 May 2005 (defeated)
Robyn McSweeney Liberal South West 22 May 2001 – 21 May 2017 (defeated)
Louise Pratt Labor East Metropolitan 22 May 2001 – 29 October 2007 (resigned to contest Senate)
24 Lynn MacLaren Greens South Metropolitan 15 February 2005 – 21 May 2005 (defeated)
22 May 2009 – 21 May 2017 (defeated)
25 Shelley Archer Labor/Independent Mining and Pastoral 22 May 2005 – 21 May 2009 (retired)
Donna Faragher Liberal East Metropolitan 22 May 2005 –
Sheila Mills Labor South Metropolitan 22 May 2005 – 21 May 2009 (retired)
Helen Morton Liberal East Metropolitan 22 May 2005 – 21 May 2017 (defeated)
Margaret Rowe Liberal Agricultural 22 May 2005 – 22 June 2007 (resigned)
Sally Talbot Labor South West 22 May 2005 –
31 Wendy Duncan* National Agricultural
Mining and Pastoral
21 January 2008 – 22 May 2009
22 May 2009 – 12 February 2013 (resigned to contest LA)
32 Carolyn Burton Labor North Metropolitan 12 September 2008 – 21 May 2009 (term expired)
33 Shelley Eaton Labor Mining and Pastoral 17 September 2008 – 21 May 2009 (term expired)
34 Liz Behjat Liberal North Metropolitan 22 May 2009 – 21 May 2017 (retired)
Helen Bullock Labor Mining and Pastoral 22 May 2009 – 21 May 2013 (retired)
Mia Davies* National Agricultural 22 May 2009 – 12 February 2013 (resigned to contest LA)
Alyssa Hayden* Liberal East Metropolitan 22 May 2009 – 21 May 2017 (defeated)
Alison Xamon Greens East Metropolitan
North Metropolitan
22 May 2009 – 21 May 2013 (defeated)
22 May 2017 – 21 May 2021 (defeated)
39 Linda Savage Labor East Metropolitan 22 March 2010 – 21 May 2013 (retired)
40 Jacqui Boydell National Mining and Pastoral 22 May 2013 – 21 May 2021 (retired)
Alanna Clohesy Labor East Metropolitan 22 May 2013 –
Samantha Rowe Labor East Metropolitan 22 May 2013 –
Amber-Jade Sanderson* Labor East Metropolitan 22 May 2013 – 5 February 2017 (resigned to contest LA)
44 Laine McDonald Labor North Metropolitan 27 September 2016 – 21 May 2017 (defeated)
45 Elise Irwin Liberal North Metropolitan 4 April 2017 – 21 May 2017 (term expired)
46 Diane Evers Greens South West 22 May 2017 – 21 May 2021 (defeated)
47 Klara Andric Labor South Metropolitan 22 May 2021 –
Sandra Carr Labor Agricultural 22 May 2021 –
Ayor Makur Chuot Labor North Metropolitan 22 May 2021 –
Lorna Harper Labor East Metropolitan 22 May 2021 –
Jackie Jarvis Labor South West 22 May 2021 –
Sophia Moermond Legalise Cannabis Agricultural 22 May 2021 –
Shelley Payne Labor Agricultural 22 May 2021 –
Rosetta Sahanna Labor Mining and Pastoral 22 May 2021 –

Timeline[]

Rosetta SahannaShelley PayneSophia MoermondJackie JarvisLorna HarperAyor Makur ChuotSandra CarrKlara AndricDiane Evers (politician)Elise IrwinLaine McDonaldAmber-Jade SandersonSamantha RoweAlanna ClohesyJacqui BoydellLinda SavageAlison XamonAlyssa HaydenMia DaviesHelen Bullock (politician)Liz BehjatShelley EatonCarolyn BurtonWendy DuncanSally TalbotMargaret RoweHelen MortonSheila MillsDonna FaragherShelley ArcherLynn MacLarenLouise PrattRobyn McSweeneyDee MargettsAdele FarinaSue ElleryKate DoustGiz WatsonChrissy SharpLjiljanna RavlichHelen HodgsonBarbara ScottAlannah MacTiernanValma FergusonDiane AireyMuriel PattersonCheryl DavenportBeryl JonesKay HallahanWinifred PiesseGrace VaughanMargaret McAleerLyla ElliottRuby Hutchison

See also[]

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