QUT has launched the countdown to 100 women in state parliament with a moving tribute to honour the 97 women elected to serve Queensland since 1929.
More than 50 former and current serving members of parliament and their families were welcomed to QUT for the Q100 event, held in partnership with the Pathways to Politics Program for Women.
Premier of Queensland Annastacia Palaszczuk and Queensland’s first woman premier Anna Bligh AC reunited for the occasion, joining pioneering 1990s political leader Joan Sheldon AM who was the first woman to lead a political party in Queensland and the first woman treasurer and deputy premier.
QUT Chancellor Ann Sherry AO, Vice-Chancellor Professor Margaret Sheil AO, and Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Academic) Professor Robina Xavier presided over the event that was also attended by alum from the QUT Pathways to Politics Program for Women, many of whom have already been pre-selected for state and local government elections next year.
“Can I really congratulate QUT for supporting this program and isn’t it wonderful to have everyone in the same room,” Ms Palaszczuk said.
“Currently 29 state members out of a total of 93 are female, that is less than one third of the House.
“Although we know women have come far in the past century we still have a way to go and I’m really pleased there is a program here at QUT promoting options for women.”
Queensland’s first female parliamentarian was Irene Longman, who served one term as the member for Bulimba from 1929.
It would take 37 years for the second woman, Vi Jordan, to be elected to parliament and members of Vi Jordan’s family attended the ceremony to honour her role in Queensland’s political history.
“And it wasn’t until 1986 that Yvonne Chapman became Queensland’s first female cabinet minister,” Ms Palaszczuk said. “I think I was in Year 12. So there was no one really for us to look to. Now there are so many role models out there for women. You cannot be what you cannot see so it’s wonderful to see that it’s changed.”
Ms Sherry said it was important to acknowledge the ‘shoulders upon which we all stand’ in acknowledging success for women.
“Even though some of those women may have passed, there’s many women in the room here who were the one or two women in parliament for their party at the time they were elected,” Ms Sherry said.
“Sometimes they were the first Minister, sometimes they were the only woman in their party room, and the changes that have come about as a result of the courage the determination and the dedication of those women is the reason that the Pathways to Politics Program could be subscribed by double each year.”
Opposition leader David Crisafulli, who also attended the Q100 event, said he was quietly confident it would not take as long for the 100th women in parliament to become the 200th.
“And as a result we will be a better parliament and a better society,” Mr Crisafulli said.
QUT Vice-Chancellor Professor Margaret Sheil applauded Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and former Premier Anna Bligh for making gender an issue and said more women in parliament would bring better decision-making to government.
“We have hope that the Pathways to Politics Program for Women will not only help encourage women into politics but ensure they have the tools and support networks to be successful or if they go into a different career, they can use those skills in different ways,” Professor Sheil said.
QUT Pathways to Politics Program for Woman director Professor Vicky Browning said the event marked one year before the state election and was the university’s way of celebrating the contribution of pioneering female politicians in creating a more equitable government.
“Each woman has been given a specially designed pin to recognise their place in history,” Professor Browning said.
QUT is the second Australian university to offer the Pathways to Politics Program for Women after its launch at the University of Melbourne and the program will roll out across more universities from next year.
Professor Browning said the QUT Pathways to Politics Program for Women upskilled women to run for election and is expected to play a vital role in seeing Queensland reach the 100-female-MP milestone at the October 2024 state election.
“The program is part of a national network of university-run, non-partisan courses that help aspiring female-identifying politicians identify and hone their skills, build powerful networks and gain the confidence to run for election,” Professor Browning said.
“The program has excellent support from current and former MPs from all parties and all levels of government, and they’re extremely generous with their time in presenting to course participants on various aspects of politics, from preparing for preselection to fundraising and building a support team.
“Several of our graduates have already been preselected for next year’s local and state elections, and we expect more to be announced in coming months,” she said.
Nationwide, 31 program graduates have been elected to local, state or federal government, including so far. Since 2020, 85 women have graduated from the QUT program, including 27 who graduated on the weekend.
Participation in the program is sponsored, thanks to funding from QUT and the Trawalla Foundation, and entry is via highly competitive application.
Main picture: QUT Chancellor Ann Sherry AO with the Premier of Queensland Annastacia Palaszczuk, Minister Grace Grace, and QUT Vice-Chancellor Professor Margaret Sheil AO.
