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| Women's Electoral Lobby | |
|---|---|
| Name | Women's Electoral Lobby |
| Founded | 1972 |
| Founders | Germaine Greer, Anne Summers, Beverley Oakley, Eva Cox |
| Type | Advocacy group |
| Headquarters | Australia |
| Area served | Australia |
| Focus | Women's rights |
Women's Electoral Lobby is an Australian feminist advocacy organisation formed to influence electoral politics and public policy by lobbying political parties, Members of Parliament, and candidates. It engages with parliamentarians, political activists, policy-makers and community groups across New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia, Tasmania, Australian Capital Territory, and the Northern Territory. The group works within the electoral cycle to promote women's representation and gender-responsive policy across federal and state contests.
The organisation was founded in 1972 amid the global resurgence of second-wave feminism alongside contemporaries such as National Organization for Women, Women's Liberation Movement, and campaigns linked to the United Nations Decade for Women 1976–1985. Early activism intersected with public debates sparked by figures like Germaine Greer and events such as the Women's Liberation Movement protests and the rise of feminist publishing like Ms. (magazine). Initial campaigns addressed issues surfaced during the Whitlam Government era, debates around the Equal Pay Case, and reforms connected to the Sex Discrimination Act 1984 and the Racial Discrimination Act 1975. Over subsequent decades the organisation adapted to electoral reforms including changes in voter enrolment, redistributions shaped by the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918, and the increasing prominence of parties like the Australian Labor Party, the Liberal Party of Australia, the National Party of Australia, and the emergent Australian Greens.
The organisation operates through a federation of state and territory branches modelled on civic advocacy networks such as Amnesty International and ACLU. Its governance includes committees, convenors, and local volunteers akin to structures seen in GetUp! and the Australian Council of Trade Unions. Funding and resourcing mirror non-profit practices used by Philanthropy Australia affiliates and community legal centres associated with Women’s Legal Service networks. Branches coordinate candidate questionnaires, preference recommendations, and briefing papers distributed to MPs, Senators, and local council candidates, engaging with parliamentary staff in the offices of representatives from electorates like Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, and Adelaide.
The organisation has articulated policy positions on reproductive rights, childcare, paid parental leave, gender-based violence, and economic security for women, interacting with legislative instruments such as the Sex Discrimination Act 1984 and debates over the Family Law Act 1975. Campaigns have targeted party platforms from the Australian Labor Party to the Liberal Party of Australia and minor parties including the Australian Democrats and the National Party of Australia. It has produced scorecards, position papers, and advocacy toolkits referenced during inquiries by bodies like the Australian Human Rights Commission and submissions to parliamentary committees such as the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee.
Through candidate questionnaires, preference recommendations, and grassroots mobilising the organisation has sought to influence outcomes in federal elections, by-elections, and state polls, including contests in electorates like Werriwa, Wentworth, and Denison. Its assessments have been used by journalists from outlets such as The Australian, The Sydney Morning Herald, The Guardian (Australia), and broadcasters including ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation). The organisation's activities intersect with party preselection processes, internal reforms around affirmative action and quotas as enacted in branches of the Australian Labor Party and policy changes in the Liberal Party of Australia and Australian Greens.
Critics have argued that the organisation's endorsements and scorecards reflect ideological priorities similar to debates seen around National Organization for Women and other advocacy groups, drawing scrutiny from commentators in The Australian Financial Review and conservative voices aligned with Institute of Public Affairs. Controversies have included disputes over candidate preference advice, perceptions of partisanship during elections contested by the Australian Greens and independents, and tensions with other feminist networks such as Emily's List (Australia) and grassroots collectives. Internal debates have mirrored broader feminist schisms evident in dialogues involving figures linked to Germaine Greer, Anne Summers, and academic feminism in institutions like University of Sydney and Australian National University.
Notable achievements include contributions to raising the profile of issues that informed amendments to the Sex Discrimination Act 1984, advocacy that influenced developments in paid parental leave schemes and childcare funding debates involving the Australian Government, and campaigns promoting increased female representation leading to greater numbers of women in the House of Representatives and the Senate. The organisation's candidate assessment work has been cited in analyses of women's representation alongside studies from Australian Institute of Family Studies, Australian Bureau of Statistics, and academic research published by scholars at Monash University, La Trobe University, and University of Melbourne.
Category:Feminist organisations in Australia Category:Political advocacy groups in Australia