Australia has indeed had female attorneys-general at both the federal and state/territory levels. Here are a few notable female attorneys-general in Australia and some of their achievements:
- Sen. Michaelia Clare Cash:
- Sen. Michaelia Clare Cash served as the Attorney-General of Australia from 30 March 2021 to 23 May 2022.
- She has also been actively involved in the Australian political space and has held various ministerial positions. She was the Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business, and Minister for Small and Family Business, Skills and Vocational Education from 2018 to 2021.
- Nicola Roxon:
- Nicola Roxon served as the Attorney-General of Australia from 2011 to 2013 during the Gillard government.
- One of her significant accomplishments was the introduction of plain packaging laws for cigarettes. These laws aimed to reduce smoking rates by making cigarette packaging less attractive and included graphic health warnings.
- Yvette D’Ath:
- Yvette D’Ath served as the Attorney-General of Queensland, one of Australia’s states, as of my last update in September 2021.
- She worked on various legal reforms, including changes to domestic violence legislation, youth justice reforms, and initiatives aimed at improving access to justice in Queensland.
- Vickie Chapman:
- Vickie Chapman has been the Attorney-General of South Australia, another state in Australia, as of my last update in September 2021.
- Under her leadership, South Australia introduced laws to criminalize coercive control, a form of domestic abuse that involves controlling and manipulating behavior.
- Kerry Shine (Queensland):
- Kerry Shine served as the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice in the Queensland government. During her tenure, she worked on various legal reforms, including changes to criminal law and domestic violence legislation.
- Gabrielle Upton (New South Wales):
- Gabrielle Upton served as the Attorney-General of New South Wales. She worked on legal reforms and was involved in initiatives related to domestic violence and child protection.
These are just a few examples of female attorneys-general in Australia, and each of them contributed to the legal and social landscape of their respective jurisdictions in various ways.