'Fight for what you believe'
Three generations of Australian Liberal women explain Dame Enid Lyons’ legacy on the 75th anniversary of her famous maiden speech. By Fred Pawle.
Be tough, value the feminine perspective, and use history to reimagine a better future – this is how Liberal women from three generations responded to the re-enactment of Dame Enid Lyons’ historic maiden speech, hosted by the Menzies Research Centre, at Old Parliament House this week.
Former senator and Speaker of the House of Representatives Bronwyn Bishop said there was no point women complaining about their disadvantages.
“Women have the opportunity to do anything they really want,” she said. “I’ve always had the attitude that if it is a bit harder because you are a woman, don’t waste your energy whinging about it, use your energy to overcome that difficulty, because most of the women in the world don’t have that opportunity. So when I hear about targets and quotas I get angry. I just believe in the merit principle.”
Bishop speaks from experience. “When I first stood for the Senate, I was asked, ‘Mrs Bishop, NSW has never had a woman senator, why should we have one now?’ I said because I am the best person for the job. They chose a bloke, but I didn’t go away. I kept coming back.
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MORE: Transcript of the speech
“Women have to know they have to keep coming back. You have to fight for what you believe. Don’t ask for a soft option.
“Dame Enid had a burning desire to make a contribution. That’s what we can celebrate 75 years on, that she had the strength and the commitment to fight to be able to make her contribution. That is always to be admired.”
Current Senator Jane Hume, from Victoria, said the feminine perspective changed with the times, but the principles remained constant.
“Dame Enid was extraordinary,” she said. “Twelve children, widowed at 41, and entered parliament at 46.” Besides that, she had endured her late husband’s political turmoil, been widowed during a war and seen her own sons march off in uniform. “All of that is a truly unique feminine experience and perspective.”
This syncs perfectly with the party both she and Lyons represent. “I think a lot of Liberal values are universal values and that’s what appealed to me tonight. You heard Dame Enid Lyons’ voice come through … when she spoke about family, when she spoke about responsibility, how it’s important for everybody to contribute to a better society, the whole Menzian concept of lifters not leaners, and it was pre-empted by Dame Enid Lyons.”
Senator Hume says this perspective needs to be put to more effective use if the party wants to broaden its base. Increasing the female representation should not involve quotas, though.
One potential future female MP, Olivia Nicholls, 20, president of the Young Liberals branch in Geelong, Victoria, was inspired by the re-enactment. “Walking into parliament alone would have been nerve racking enough (for Dame Enid). And then to give such an enriching inspirational speech... It gave me shivers listening to it.
“Young people today probably don’t reflect on our past as much as we should. Not only for inspiration but also how to improve our future as well. It’s a fantastic speech and it should be absolutely remembered as one of the best. She represented so many things that are so important today that still ring true and that are still inspiring for many women in parliament now.”
BUY: Enid Lyons, Leading lady to a Nation, by Anne Henderson, discounted for Subscribers