The Australian Women's Register

Winifred Piesse became the first woman to represent the Country Party in the Western Australian Parliament when she was elected to the Legislative Council for a six year term, beginning in May 1977. Her extensive experience in nursing ensured that health matters were high on her Parliamentary agenda. She was particularly concerned about issues affecting children and youth, and also urged the government to urgently fund research into breast cancer, especially its high incidence in young mothers.

Pamela Buchanan was a parliamentarian who represented the Australian Labor Party in the Pilbara region of Western Australia from 1983 until 1992.

Carrard was a Hungarian-born virtuoso pianist who came to Perth, Western Australia, in 1941 and remained there until her death in 2000. She had studied in Hungary with Béla Bartók, and toured extensively as a concert pianist. In Australia, she had a long involvement with the Australian Broadcasting Commission, and taught a legion of pupils, most famously pianist David Helfgott. She was awarded an MBE in 1976, and lived to the age of 102.

Louise Clare Pratt was born in Kalgoorlie in 1972. She attended Eastern Hills Senior High School in Perth, then studied arts at the University of Western Australia. Pratt became actively involved in student politics, eventually being elected state education officer for the National Union of Students in 1994. A member of the Australian Labor Party, she was elected to the Legislative Council of the Parliament of Western Australia in 2001, the youngest woman ever elected to the Council. She served until 2007, when she resigned after being assured of election at the 2007 federal election, having won first position on the Labor ticket, defeating incumbent Senator Ruth Webber in a pre-selection contest. She has been a Labor member of the Australian Senate since July 2008.

Cheryl Davenport was elected to the Thirty-third Parliament of Western Australia as the Australian Labor Party member in the Legislative Council. for South Metropolitan Region from 22 May 1989. She was re-elected in 1993 and 1996 and  retired 21 May 2001.

Cheryl Edwards was a Liberal Party of Australia member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly. Elected to the Thirty-third Parliament of Western Australia for Kingsley (new seat) on 4 February 1989, she was re-elected in 1993, 1996, 2001. She did not contest the general election of 2005.

Judith Edwards was an Australian Labor Party member of the Legislative Assembly of Western Australia. She was elected to the Thirty-third Parliament of Western Australia for Maylands at the by-election on 26 May 1990, held to fill the vacancy consequent upon the resignation of Hon. Peter M’Callum Dowding. Re-elected in 1993, 1996, 2001, 2005 she did not contest the general election of 6 September 2008.

Judy Hughes was elected to the Thirty-seventh Parliament of Western Australia as the Australian Labor Party member for the Legislative Assembly seat of Kingsley, succeeding Cheryl Lynn Edwardes, who retired. She contested the same seat at the general election of 6 September 2008 for Kingsley and was succeeded by Ms Andrea Ruth Mitchell for the Liberal Party.

Muriel Patterson was elected to the Thirty-third Parliament of Western Australia as the Liberal party member of the Legislative Council for South West Region on 4 February 1989 for term commencing 22 May 1989. She was re-elected 1993, and 1996 (for term commencing 22 May 1997). She retired 21 May 2001.

Jaye Radisich was elected to the Thirty-sixth Parliament of Western Australia as the Australian Labor Party member for the Legislative Assembly seat of Swan Hills on 10 February 2001 in succession to June Dorothy van de Klashorst (defeated). She was re-elected in 2005, but did not contest the general election of 6 September 2008.

Barbara Scott was elected to the Thirty-fourth Parliament of Western Australia as the Liberal Party member of the Legislative Council for South Metropolitan Region on 6 February 1993 for term commencing 22 May 1993. She was re-elected in 1996, 2001 and 2005 (for term commencing 22 May 2005). She retired 21 May 2009.

Dr Hilda Margaret Turnbull was a National Party of Australia member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly. She was elected to the Thirty-third Parliament of Western Australia for Collie on 4 February 1989, in succession to Thomas Henry Jones (retired). She was re-elected 1993 and 1996 and was defeated 10 February 2001.

Diana Warnock was elected as an Australian Labor Party member for Perth to Legislative Assembly of the 34th Parliament of Western Australia, Australian Labor Party on 6 February 1993,  in succession to Ian Christopher Alexander (retired). She was re-elected 1996 but did not contest general election 10 February 2001.

Mia Davies is a National Party of Australia member elected to the Thirty-eighth Parliament of Western Australia for the Agricultural Region in the Legislative Council on 6 September 2008 for term commencing 22 May 2009.

Kate Doust is an Australian Labor Party member elected to the Thirty-sixth Parliament of Western Australia for South Metropolitan Region on 10 February 2001, 2005 (for term commencing 22 May 2005). She was re-elected 6 September 2008 for a term commencing 22 May 2009. Her portfolios have included, Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council; Shadow Minister for Energy; Science and Innovation: from 26 September 2008 – present.

Wendy Duncan is a National Party of Australia candidate who was elected to the Legislative Council of the Thirty-Seventh Parliament of Western Australia for Agricultural Region on 29 January 2008 to fill vacancy upon resignation of Hon Murray Criddle. She was re-elected 6 September 2008 for term commencing 22 May 2009. She has served Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Regional Development and Lands, and Minister Assisting the Minister for State Development as well as Minister Assisting on Country Transport.

Sue Ellery, a current (2009) Western Australian Parliamentarian, has served since 2001 in the Legislative Council for the Australian Labor Party.

Legislative Council, Liberal Party of Australia. Donna Faragher is a Liberal party of Australia candidate elected to the Legislative Council of the Thirty-seventh Parliament of Western Australia for East Metropolitan Region on 26 February 2005 (for term commencing 22 May 2005). She was re-elected 6 September 2008 for term commencing 22 May 2009. She has held the portfolios of Minister for the Environment and Minister for Youth from 23 September 2008 till the present November 2009).

Adele Farina is a member of the Australian Labor Party who was elected to the Legislative Council of the Thirty-sixth Parliament of Western Australia for South West Region on 10 February 2001. She was re-elected in 2005 (for term commencing 22 May 2005), and then again on 6 September 2008 for term commencing 22 May 2009.

Alyssa Hayden was elected the Liberal Party member to the Legislative Council of the Thirty-eighth Parliament of Western Australia for the East Metropolitan Region on 6 September 2008 for term commencing 22 May 2009.

Robyn McSweeney was elected to the Legislative Council of the Thirty-sixth Parliament of Western Australia for as the Liberal member for the South West Region on 10 February 2001. She was re-elected in 2005 (for term commencing 22 May 2005) and again on 6 September 2008 for term commencing 22 May 2009. She has held the following portfolios: Minister for Child Protection; Community Services; Seniors and Volunteering: 23 September 2008 – present (November 2009)  and the Minister for Women’s Interests: 9 February 2009 – present (November 2009).

Michelle Roberts was elected to the Thirty-Fourth Parliament of Western Australia as the Australian Labor Party member for the Legislative Assembly seat of Glendalough at the by-election held on 19 March 1994 to fill the vacancy consequent upon the resignation of Dr Carmen Mary Lawrence. The electorate was abolished in the redistribution of 1994.  She was elected to the Thirty-Fifth Parliament for Midland (new seat) on 14 December 1996 and subsequently re-elected in 2001, 2005 and 2008.

Alison Xamon was elected to the Legislative Council of the Thirty-eighth Parliament of Western Australia as Greens member for the East Metropolitan Region on 6 September 2008 for term commencing 22 May 2009.

Kay Hallahan was the first woman to sit in both houses of Western Australian Parliament. An Australian Labor Party member she was elected to the Legislative Council of Western Australia on 19 February 1983. She served until 13 January 1993. She switched to the Legislative Assembly when she was elected 6 February 1993, serving until 14 December 1996.

Judyth Watson was an Australian Labor Party member of the Legislative Assembly of Western Australia.  Elected on 8 February 1986, she served as member for Canning until 4 February 1989, when she was elected member for Kenwick. Watson held this seat until 14 December 1996.

Beryl Jones was an Australian Labor Party member of the Legislative Council of the Parliament of Western Australia. She was the member for South West Province 8 February 1986 – 4 February 1989. She was elected member for South West Region 4 February 1989 and served until 6 February 1993.

Carolyn Burton was an Australian Labor Party candidate for the Western Australian Legislative Council. She was elected to the thirty-eighth Parliament of Western Australia for the North Metropolitan Region on 17 September 2008 to fill a vacancy upon the resignation of Hon Graham Giffard on 11 August 2008. She retired 21 May 2009.