The Federal Parliament has finally listened to young Canberrans petitioning for more equal representation among statues in the national capital.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced three new statues to be placed within Canberra’s National Triangle near Old Parliament House. The sculptures will depict the first two women and the first Indigenous Australian elected to Federal Parliament.
Enid Lyons was the first woman elected to the House of Representatives and the first woman to serve in Federal Cabinet, while Dorothy Tangney served as the first woman elected to the Senate for Western Australia. Both women were elected in 1943.
Neville Bonner was a Jagera man from northern NSW who was the first Indigenous Australian elected to parliament by popular vote. He was elected as Senator for Queensland in 1971.
“Enid Lyons, Dorothy Tangney and Neville Bonner laid the path for those who have followed and they rightly deserve our recognition,” Mr Morrison said.
“It’s important we never forget those who shaped our history so that ours and future generations are always reminded of the sacrifices they made and the courage they showed.”
Assistant Minister for Regional Development and Territories Nola Marino said the National Capital Authority will be working closely with the descendants and family members in developing each sculpture.
“These statues will join those of other prominent Australians in the National Triangle as we honour their important legacy,” Ms Marino said.
“The contributions of these three remarkable individuals will be immortalised for everyone to see.”
The Monumental Women petition, led by Jasiri Australia, has been calling for more diversity, inclusion and recognition of female leaders and Indigenous Australians who they say deserve to be celebrated as trailblazers in our nation’s capital.
Jasiri’s national program manager Olivia Kourmadias said only one in every 10 statues in the ACT is of a woman.
“It tells young women that their political heritage isn’t important and that their contributions to politics isn’t worthy of commemoration or honour like the contributions of men,” Ms Kourmadias said.
The federal government has allocated $1.25 million for the statues, which are to be completed by 2022.
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