MAKING BIG CHANGES FOR WOMEN

1961 ACCESS TO THE CONTRACEPTIVE PILL

Once only the right of married women, making the pill available to all women also helped support more women remaining in the workplace.

1965 THE RIGHT TO DRINK IN PUBLIC BARS

A huge cultural shift saw women gain the same rights as men to drink in pubs and clubs. Cheers to that!

1979 UNPAID MATERNITY LEAVE

The Government finally recognised that having a child shouldn’t stop a woman from continuing to work or earning an income.

2010 FIRST FEMALE PRIME MINISTER

The appointment of Julia Gillard as the nation’s first female leader was a huge moment for Australian women.

2011 FIRST PAID PARENTAL LEAVE

This legislation recognised the importance of working parents being supported to take time off work to care for a newborn or recently adopted child.

DID YOU KNOW? GLOBALLY, WOMEN HAVE BEEN CAMPAIGNING FOR YEARS TO HAVE THE TAX ON TAMPONS REMOVED

In the UK in 2001, campaigners successfully managed to get their equivalent of the GST – the VAT (Value Added Tax) – reduced from 20 per cent to five per cent. While it’s still not zero, it does demonstrate the power of protest to make a difference. The European Commission says it’s aiming to bring in a zero rate for sanitary products – but not until 2022. Ireland, Canada and some states in the United States have already removed their “pink tax”.