A Celebration of International Women's Day 2013

In a celebration today of International Women's Day 2013, we at TimeBase would like to look back briefly at the legislative milestones that have marked the women's rights movement through history.

In the list below, you will find a non-exhaustive list of the important judgments, laws and other legislative initiatives which have improved and changed the lives of women in Australia in the last centry:

1890 - 1930

• 1894 - Women in SA are given the right to vote and the right to stand for election in Parliament, becoming the first state in Australia to do so. Between 1899 and 1908, WA, MSW, TAS, QLD and VIC follow suit and the Commonwealth Franchise Act 1902 is passed.

• 1903 - Australian women vote in a Federal election for the first time

• The Crimes (Girls Protection) Act 1910 (NSW) is passed raising the age of consent in NSW to 16.

• 1912 - The Maternity Allowance Act (CTH) institutes a small payment upon birth of a child to white mothers, including unmarried mothers.

• 1919 - The Court of Conciliation and Arbitration raises minimum wage for women to 54% of the national basic wage for men in the Clothing Trades’ Case.

• 1921 - Edith Cowan, the first female politician is elected to WA Parliament.

1940 - 1980

• 1949 - Edith Lyons is the first female to hold a position in Federal Cabinet

• 1950 - Court of Conciliation and Arbitration sets female rate of pay at 75% of male rate (Basic Wage Inquiry 1949-50, (1950) Commonwealth Arbitration Reports).

• 1962 - Aboriginal Women are given the right to vote.

• 1966 - Commonwealth public service lifts to marriage bar meaning married women can no longer lose their jobs upon marriage.

• 1969 - Commonwealth Conciliation and Arbitration Commission rules equal pay for women in the Equal Pay Case 1969.

• 1972 - Equal Pay Case 1972 broadens the concept of equal pay for work of equal value enunciated in 1969.

• 1973 - Women working in the public sector are the first to receive maternity leave benefits under the Maternity Leave (Australian Government Employees) Act 1973 (CTH). Additionally, the first NSW Rape Crisis Centre is established in Glebe.

• 1975 - no fault divorce is established by the Family Law Act 1975 (CTH).

• 1976 - SA becomes the first state in Australia to make rape within marriage illegal with the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Amendment Act 1975 (SA).

1980 - Current

• 1983 - Australia ratifies the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women.

• 1986 - The Affirmative Action Act 1986 (CTH) is introduced.

• 1987 - Australia's first female judge is appointed to the High Court. Justice Gaudron remains on the bench for 15 years.

• 1989 - One of the first class action sex discrimination cases against an employer is won by 34 women against BHP Billiton - Australian Iron and Steel Pty Ltd v Banovic [1989] HCA 56.

• 1990 - Carmen Lawrence is appointed as the first female premier in the state of Western Australia.

• 1991 - Roma Mitchell is appointed the first female governor of the state of SA.

• 2000 - The Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Act 1999 (CTH) commences in effect.

• 2001 - Christine Nixon becomes the first woman to head up an Australian Police Force becoming the Chief Commissioner of Victorian Police.

• 2008 - Quentin Bryce becomes the first female Governor-General of Australia.

• 2009 - Julia Gillard becomes the first female Prime Minister of Australai.

• 2011 - Nicola Roxon becomes the first female Attorney-General. Additionally, the government announces all roles in the Defence Forces will be open to women, including combat roles.

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