From opposite sides of politics, Gracia Baylor AM and Joan Coxsedge shared a determination to break barriers as the first women elected to Victoria’s Legislative Council.
In a powerful tribute, Dr Sarah Mansfield MP, Member for Western Victoria and an alum of Pathways to Politics, reflected on their legacy and the continued need to create pathways for diverse women to lead.
The following speech was given in the Victorian Parliament by Dr Sarah Mansfield MP on 30 July 2025.
On behalf of my Greens colleagues I would like to offer our condolences for the losses this chamber is reflecting on today, those of Gracia Baylor AM and Joan Coxsedge. Our deep condolences go to their families, children and friends, who will miss them very deeply. These were two women from opposite sides of politics, but they had plenty in common. The steps they took as the first women elected to Victoria’s Legislative Council paved the way for the many women after them. As one of those who have followed, I am indebted to these trailblazers.
I want to take a moment to reflect on the legacy of Gracia Baylor and her motivation to become politically active: the gaps in educational opportunities for her children living outside of metro Melbourne. It was the sort of issue not being adequately addressed by those who were making decisions, as was the case at that time with so many issues that impacted women and families. Lack of representation was a huge part of the reason for this and something Gracia sought to remedy.
Joan Coxsedge, an avid activist as part of the anti-war movement, protested against conscription and was jailed for her activities. While I did not know her, she sounds like a woman I would have had a bit of time for. She and her co-protesters were the first civilians charged under the summary offences act of 1971, which aimed to limit the rights of protesters, including acts of obstruction and trespassing. Joan was a passionate advocate for protecting the right to protest, and I do wonder what she would say in modern times.
Aside from their individual achievements, the fact of their election as women to this place at a time when social attitudes and structures limited access to many types of work for women, let alone political leadership, has left a tremendous legacy.
How proud I am sure they would be to see this chamber achieving gender parity for the first time ever. Across all parties in all parliaments, we need all women.
Great gains have been made in increasing the representation of women in the Parliament, but barriers remain. We have many examples to highlight what happens when deliberate efforts are not made to create viable pathways for women to get elected.
I feel lucky to have been part of the inaugural Pathways to Politics for Women program, which has now expanded nationally and actively supports women and gender-diverse people with political aspirations.
We still have a long way to go before our parliaments represent the true diversity of our communities, including greater representation of multicultural communities, the LGBTQIA+ community, First Nations people and people with disabilities, different socio-economic backgrounds and different life experiences.
Having parliaments that are a genuine reflection of our communities is important, because the decisions made better reflect community sentiment and because they illuminate issues many of us do not see or experience, which is something Gracia recognised and why her representation mattered so much.
We also have to acknowledge that the current political structures and culture remain embedded in a patriarchal and colonial system. Dismantling this will take more than changing the people in the room, and this is something that I suspect Joan understood very well.
Once again, my condolences to the families of Gracia Baylor and Joan Coxsedge and my deep gratitude to them for the legacies that they have left.
Republished with permission from Dr Sarah Mansfield MP.
Dr Sarah Mansfield MP
Member of the Legislative Council for Western Victoria (Greens)
Dr Sarah Mansfield MP was elected as the Greens Member of the Legislative Council for Western Victoria in 2022. She was formerly a GP, and served two terms as Councillor on Greater Geelong City Council after completing Pathways to Politics in 2017.
About Gracia Baylor and Joan Coxsedge
In 1979, Gracia Baylor and Joan Coxsedge made history as the first women elected to Victoria’s Legislative Council.
Baylor (Liberal Party) championed child safety and women’s health and later led the National Council of Women of Australia. Coxsedge (Labor) was a fierce advocate for women’s rights, social justice and anti-militarism, remaining politically active after leaving Parliament.
Read more on the Parliament of Victoria website.
