VICTORIAN WOMEN’S POLITICAL HISTORY REVEALED

Monday, 17 November 2008
New Brumby Government-sponsored research has uncovered the story of forgotten Victorian women political aspirants.
Women’s Affairs Minister Maxine Morand said the Brumby Government funded the $15,800 research projects as part of Victoria’s Centenary of Suffrage celebrations.

“With Victoria celebrating 100 year’s of women’s suffrage this year, there has been an increased focus on the achievements of women, and it is important this recognition continues into the future,’’ Ms Morand said.

“The Centenary of Suffrage edition of the Victorian History Journal and online resources created by the National Foundation of Australian Women will ensure Victoria’s female political pioneers will not be forgotten and draws attention to their extraordinary achievements.’’

The Centenary of Suffrage Victorian Historical Journal was edited by Associate Professor Judith Smart and includes articles on a women’s perspective on gaining the vote, Australian feminism and race, and pioneering suffragist Vida Goldstein.
Online resources Carrying on the fight: Women candidates in Victorian Parliamentary Elections and Representative Women: Victorian Women Parliamentarians since 1923, compiled by researchers from the University of Melbourne, provide a complete record of a women who have stood for parliament.

Ms Morand said this was the first record of its type.

“The campaign for women’s political rights in Victoria is sprinkled with the names of well-known women like Vida Goldstein and Henrietta Dugdale,” Ms Morand said.

“Today, we can add many more names to the list thanks to this painstaking research that has revealed a fascinating kaleidoscope of women’s political history in Victoria.”

Ms Morand said the research reveals that there have been more than 700 women candidates since 1923, starting with four women in the 1920s through to 382 candidates in 2006.

“Despite the large number of women standing for parliament only 89 individual women have ever been a member of parliament, this compares to 1550 men,’’ Ms Morand said.

“It was the efforts of these women that have given the voice to women and women’s issues in the parliament today.’’

Funding for these projects was provided though the Brumby Government’s $354,700 Centenary of Women’s Suffrage Grants program.

Victoria has been celebrating this historical event since February, with the Brumby Government allocating over $1 million towards Victorian Women Vote 1908-2008.

For more information on this new research or Victorian Women Vote 1908-2008 visit www.women.vic.gov.au/womenvote