ARM’s 20th Anniversary and Women

Commemoration of the Australian Republican Movement’s 20th anniversary gives WfaAR cause for pause about the few – and declining – numbers of women involved in ARM decision-making over its history.  The 14 foundation members of 9 July 1991 included: Jenny Kee; Franca Arena; Faith Bandler and Geraldine Doogue.  The ARM group at the 1998 Constitutional Convention filled 27 of the 76 elected positions among them 14 women probably due to ARM’s policy of alternating gender on ballot papers: Wendy Machin, Karin Sowada, Jennie George and Hazel Hawke (NSW); Mary Delahunty and Poppy King (Vic); Linda Kirk and Kirsten Andrews (SA); Sallyanne Atkinson and Sarina Russo (Qld); Janet Holmes a Court and Clare Thompson (WA); Marguerite Scott (Tas) and Anne Witheford (ACT). ARM’s sole female representative of three on the 1999 YES Committee was former NSW Democrats Senator, Karin Sowada. On the first post referendum National Committee, women were represented by Wendy Machin, one of six members, but things changed when the first National Committee was elected in 2000.  Women jumped to five members out of 16: Natasha Stott Despoja; Louise Sullivan; Anne Witheford; Dorothy McCrae-McMahon and Susan Ryan. In 2011, ARM’s National Council is down to one woman: Lyn Petrie who is one of the Vice Presidents and ex officio as she is the Convenor of ARM SA. There are currently no elected women members.