History

Susan Maree Ryan (b. 10 October 1942) was a Labor Senator for the Australian Capital Territory from 13 December 1975 to 19 January 1988. With a background as a teacher, Senator Ryan became the federal Minister for Education on 11 March 1983 when the Hawke Labor government came to power. She was also Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Status of Women, a role in which she was able to pursue her passion for promoting the role of women in politics and government. Ryan was a founding member of the ACT chapter of the Women’s Electoral Lobby. Post politics, she served as a member of the Old Parliament House Advisory Council (2011-14) and as the inaugural Australian Age Discrimination Commissioner (2011).

The 1975 election that saw Ryan elected was the first at which the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory had Senate representation. The Senate (Representation of Territories) Act was part of the package of legislation rejected twice by the Senate before the 1974 double dissolution, and following that election was passed at the joint sitting of both houses of Parliament. The Act provided for each of the territories to have two Senators, elected under a single transferable vote for the same term as the House of Representatives. While it is theoretically possible for an independent or minor party to win a territory Senate seat, the strength of major party votes has meant that each territory has chosen one Labor and one Coalition Senator at every election since 1975. The first Senators elected from the ACT were Susan Ryan (Labor) and John Knight (Liberal).