▁the ▁first ▁woman ▁elected ▁to ▁any ▁Australian ▁Parliament . ▁D ame ▁En id ▁Ly ons , ▁in ▁the ▁Australian ▁House ▁of ▁Representatives ▁and ▁Senator ▁Dor othy ▁Tang ney ▁became ▁the ▁first ▁women ▁in ▁the ▁Federal ▁Parliament ▁in ▁ 1 9 4 3 . ▁Ly ons ▁went ▁on ▁to ▁be ▁the ▁first ▁woman ▁to ▁hold ▁a ▁Cab inet ▁post ▁in ▁the ▁ 1 9 4 9 ▁min istry ▁of ▁Robert ▁M enz ies . ▁Ros em ary ▁Fol lett ▁was ▁elected ▁Chief ▁Minister ▁of ▁the ▁Australian ▁Capital ▁Territ ory ▁in ▁ 1 9 8 9 , ▁becoming ▁the ▁first ▁woman ▁elected ▁to ▁lead ▁a ▁state ▁or ▁territory . ▁By ▁ 2 0 1 0 , ▁the ▁people ▁of ▁Australia ' s ▁oldest ▁city , ▁Sydney ▁had ▁female ▁leaders ▁occup ying ▁every ▁major ▁political ▁office ▁above ▁them , ▁with ▁Clo ver ▁Moore ▁as ▁Lord ▁Mayor , ▁Krist ina ▁K ene ally ▁as ▁Premier ▁of ▁New ▁South ▁Wales , ▁Marie ▁Bash ir ▁as ▁Governor ▁of ▁New ▁South ▁Wales , ▁Julia ▁Gill ard ▁as ▁Prime ▁Minister , ▁Qu entin ▁Bry ce ▁as ▁Governor - General ▁of ▁Australia ▁ ▁and ▁Elizabeth ▁II ▁as ▁Queen ▁of ▁Australia . ▁ ▁Cook ▁Islands ▁ ▁Women ▁in ▁R ar ot ong a ▁won ▁the ▁right ▁to ▁vote ▁in ▁ 1 8 9 3 , ▁shortly ▁after ▁New ▁Zealand . ▁ ▁New ▁Zealand ▁ ▁New ▁Zealand ' s ▁Elect oral ▁Act ▁of ▁ 1 9   Se ptember   1 8 9 3 ▁made ▁this ▁country ▁the ▁first ▁in ▁the ▁world ▁to ▁grant