Young Liberal Women
Women are unquestionably destined to exercise more and more influence upon practical politics in Australia…In the educating of the electorate in liberal ideas they have for many years been an effective force. Now we have an organisation in which all distinctions have gone, and with men and women working equally for the one body
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Sir Robert Menizes, Albury Conference, 1944
Liberal Women
Each State and Territory Division of the Liberal Party has a women’s council, with constituted powers and representation at senior Party levels. The sections have been influential over the years and instrumental in the development of many of the Party’s major initiatives for women at Federal, State and Territory levels.
As the peak body representing women in the Liberal Party, the Federal Women’s Committee has been active in promoting women for elected office, advocating policy, advising on a wide range of issues, assisting in election campaigns and performing a vital role in the enduring success of the Liberal Party. Much of the FWC’s efforts are unsung but they are crucial to the development of a truly representative nationwide party organisation.
Young Liberal Women
Many of the Liberal Party’s most well-known and successful figures started their involvement in politics as Young Liberal Women.
Some figures you’re probably familiar with include:
The Honourable Marise Payne
The first woman to serve as Federal Young Liberal President (from 1989-91), and as NSW YL President from 1987-88. She went on to become the longest serving female senator in Australia’s history, serving in Liberal Governments holding a range of portfolios, including Human Services, Defence, Foreign Affairs, and Women.Gladys Berejiklian
‘The woman who saved Australia’ joined the NSW Young Liberals in 1993 and served as the 26th NSW YL President from 1996 to 1997. It was only six years later that Gladys was elected to Parliament as the Member for Willoughby in 2003, and went on to serve as a minister in the O’Farrell and Baird Governments before becoming Leader of the NSW Liberals and the first woman in NSW history to be elected Premier in her own right.Senator Claire Chandler
The incumbent Shadow Minister for Finance and Senator for Tasmania served as Federal Young Liberal President from 2016-17. In 2019, she was elected as a Senator for Tasmania.Jess Wilson MP
A first-term MP, Jess recently made history as the first female leader of the Victorian Liberal Party. Before parliament, she advised federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg, and was Executive Director of Policy at the Business Council of Australia.The Honourable Bronwyn Bishop AO
Australia’s 29th Speaker of the House of Representatives joined the Killara branch of the Young Liberals at university, marking the start of a long and successful career with in the Liberal organisation and the Parliament.
Liberal Women, A Proud History of Firsts
Published by The Hon Kelly O’Dwyer MP, Minister for Revenue, Financial Services, and Women in 2018.
Achievements for Women
As Sir Robert Menzies led Australian politics into a new era, the Liberal Party introduced a number of policies that continue to influence the lives of Australian women today.
Among the achievements of the Menzies Government between 1949 and 1966 were policies on child endowment and a national health scheme. In the Holt, Gorton and McMahon Governments between 1966 and 1972, the Liberal Party introduced policies protecting deserted wives and introduced equal pay legislation.
Between 1975 and 1983, the Fraser Government introduced a family income supplement scheme to help lower income families and signed the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women. This later led to the establishment of the Sex Discrimination Office.
From 1996 to 2007, the Howard Government significantly increased opportunities for women by creating an additional 2.3 million jobs, more than half of which (almost 1.2 million jobs) were filled by women.
The Howard Government introduced a number of family-friendly policies, including the introduction of the Baby Bonus, substantial increases in the rates of family benefits, the provision of extra childcare places, the introduction of the childcare tax rebate and the encouragement of flexible family-friendly work practices.
The Howard Government helped women to better prepare for their retirement, including through the introduction of the Superannuation Co-contribution.
The Liberal Party is committed to an Australia where women are full and active participants in all spheres of public and private life. At the end of the Howard Government, around one-third of Government Board positions were occupied by women.
Between 2013 and 2022, the Abbott, Turnbull and Morrison Governments enhanced the economic empowerment and safety of Australian women.
Between 2013 and 2022, around 60% of the 1.9 million jobs created went to women, and female workforce participation increased from 58.7% in 2013 to 62.2% in 2022. The gender pay gap was also reduced from 17.4% under Labor to 13.8% in 2022.
Over $3.5 billion was invested in women’s safety between 2013 and 2022, focusing on prevention, early intervention, response and recovery.