Personal Explanation

WOMEN IN PARLIAMENT

The Hon. K.A. MAYWALD (Chaffey—Minister for the River Murray, Minister for Water Security) (15:49): I seek leave to make a personal explanation.

Leave granted.

The Hon. K.A. MAYWALD: During question time I took the opportunity, when answering a question, to congratulate the Leader of the Opposition on her elevation to that position. I also mentioned my role as Leader of the National Party for nearly 12 years now in this place. I also mentioned that I believed that I was the first female member of the lower house to be a leader in this place, but that is not the case.

I have been advised by the parliamentary library, and they are very good on their research, that there was a leader in this place prior to me, and that was Heather Southcott, who was actually elected to this place in 1982 in the seat of Mitcham during a by-election following the resignation of Robin Millhouse. She was a member of this house during a number of months in 1982, and subsequently lost her seat at the next general election in 1982. But Heather Southcott was, indeed, the first woman in history to be a leader of any political party in this chamber. I am the first woman leader of a party to be a member of cabinet.