Leadership and community

• Centenary of suffrage
  • Great Queensland women from our past
  • History
    • Key players
    • Support and opposition
    • Timeline of suffrage
    • What the legislation said
  • Indigenous rights
    • The Act
    • Fighting for rights
  • Resources for schools
• National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Women's Gathering (NATSIWG)
• International Women's Day
• Seminars
  • Community leadership seminar series
  • Indigenous Women's Mentoring Workshops
  • Previous seminars
• Women into local government
  • Resources
• Women on Boards
  • For organisations
  • For women
  • Register of nominees

Timeline of suffrage

A timeline of key dates in the journey of Queensland women's voting rights.

1860

First Queensland State elections

1890

Women's Christian Temperance Union adopts suffrage as part of its charter

1893

New Zealand, the first country in the world to give women the right to vote

1894

Women's Equal Franchise Association established in Queensland, led by Emma Miller.

Woman's Franchise League (later Women's Suffrage League) formed, led by Leontine Cooper

1896

South Australia becomes first Australian state to allow women the right to vote. Also first in world to give women opportunity to stand for parliament

1901

Electoral reforms extending vote to women in state elections and a 'baby vote' for men with two or more children born in Queensland introduced to Parliament. Fails to proceed.

1902

Most Australian women aged over 21 able to vote in federal elections (excluding Aborigines, Torres Strait Islanders, Asian and South Pacific Islanders)

1903

Queensland Women's Electoral League established (July)

1903

Women vote in first federal election (December)

1905

5 January - Electoral Franchise Bill and Elections Act Amendment Bill introduced into Queensland Parliament.

25 January - Passed by Parliament and Governor's assent granted

1907

Queensland women vote in their first state election

1915

Queensland women gain right to stand for Parliament

1929

Irene Longman elected first woman in Queensland Parliament

1965

The Elections Act Amendment Act 1965 (Queensland) passed, extending the vote to Indigenous Queenslanders

1966

Indigenous Queenslanders vote in their first state election

1967

Federal referendum gives citizenship to Indigenous Australians

1973

Voting age reduced from 21 to 18 years

For more dates and information about significant milestones, download the Women's Right to Vote fact sheet (PDF 394KB).