Timeline: Voting Rights in Australia

Dec 18, 1894

Women won the right to vote in South Australia

With the introduction of the Constitution (Female Suffrage) Act 1895 (SA), women in South Australia became the first Australian colony and the fourth in the world to grant women voting rights. References:
Image: The National Archives
http://www.aec.gov.au/Elections/Australian_Electoral_History/wright.htm
http://www.australiangeographic.com.au/blogs/on-this-day/2012/12/on-this-day-sa-gives-women-the-vote

Dec 18, 1894

Aboriginal people won the right to vote in South Australia

At the same time women in South Australia were granted voting rights, Aboriginal people were also given those same rights. References:
Image: http://www.nma.gov.au/engage-learn/schools/classroom-resources/by_subject
http://www.aec.gov.au/Education/files/history_indigenous_vote.pdf

Feb 13, 1897

Catherine Helen Spence - first woman to stand for political office

Catherine stood for office in the Convention of Adelaide, becoming the first woman in Australia to nominate. References:
Image: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Catherine_Helen_Spence.jpg
http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/women_and_politics/spence3.htm

Apr 19, 1899

The Women's Franchise League established

Established by Mrs Ferguson, Emily Hensman, Christina Clark and Eleanora James, the Women's Franchise League combined suffrage efforts by several groups, organising and mobilising women to fight for voting rights. References: Image: https://www.parliament.sa.gov.au/AboutParliament/History/WomeninPoliticsinSouthAustralia/Pages/TheWomensSuffrageLeague.aspx http://womenshistory.net.au/

Dec 15, 1899

Women granted voting rights in Western Australia

With the passing of the Constitution Acts Amendment Act 1899 (WA), Western Australia was the second State to grant voting rights to women. References:
Image: https://awhf.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/miss-franchise-western-mail-16-june-1899-p-23.jpg
http://www.aec.gov.au/Elections/Australian_Electoral_History/wright.htm
http://www.foundingdocs.gov.au/item-sdid-14.html

Jan 1, 1901

Federation

The advent of Federation meant that people had the same voting rghts for Federal elections as they did at State level. References:
Image: http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/DetailsReports/ItemDetail.aspx?Barcode=11395162&isAv=N
http://constitution.naa.gov.au/stories/celebration/pods/inauguration-day-1901/index.html

Jun 12, 1902

Aboriginal voting rights stripped

The Commonwealth Franchise Act 1902 stripped voting rights from indigenous people who had already been granted the vote by their State governments. It specifically excluded 'any aboriginal native of Australia, Asia, Africa, or the islands of the Pacific, except New Zealand' from voting unless they were actually on the roll before 1901. References:
Image: http://www.janesoceania.com/australia_aboriginal_history/index1.htm
http://www.aec.gov.au/Education/files/history_indigenous_vote.pdf

Mar 12, 1921

First woman elected to Parliament

Edith Cowan was the first woman to be elected to parliament in Australia, winning the seat of West Perth in the WA Legislative Assembly. References:
Image: http://nla.gov.au/nla.pic-an23351616
http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/cowan-edith-dircksey-5791

Mar 25, 1949

Some Indigenous Australians voting rights returned

Indigenous Australians who had previously been granted voting rights or who had served in the armed forces regained the right to vote with the signing of the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1949. References: http://www.aec.gov.au/Education/files/history_indigenous_vote.pdf

May 21, 1962

Aboriginal people granted the right to vote

After many protests, the Commonwealth Electoral Act (1962) permitted all Australian indigenous peoples to vote.

Apr 20, 1971

First indigenous parliamentarian

Neville Bonner was appointed to a vacant position in the Queensland senate and subsequently won the next election, holding his seat until 1983. References: http://www.naa.gov.au/collection/fact-sheets/fs231.aspx