The Australian Women's Register

Summary

Lawyer Anna Crotty attended night classes and graduated from the University of Tasmania with an Arts/Law Degree in 1979. She then entered an industrial relations career. Anna’s trade union experience paved the way for her work on equal rights and equality for women in the workforce, with many of her cases setting a precedent for workers’ rights and entitlements. The cases covered equal rights, discrimination, equal pay for equal work, class sizes, education policies, and the national registration of teachers.

Anna represented the Tasmanian Trades and Labour Council in drafting and implementing far reaching changes to the Tasmanian Public Service, which culminated in the establishment of the State Service Act 2000, Workers Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988
and Industrial Relations Act 1984.

In 2002, Anna assisted with setting up Tasmania’s Anti-Discrimination Commission and administering the Anti-Discrimination Act 1998 ( Tas).

Since 1994, Anna has operated a legal practice specialising in human rights. Some of her cases have been high-profile and ground-breaking and have led to the establishment of new law.

After the devastating Pakistan earthquakes in 2005, Anna and some friends founded the charity, Tents4Peace. The charity has provided emergency shelter and necessities for children in war-torn and natural disaster areas around the world and established a 250 person orphanage in Kabul, Afghanistan. To date,
Tents4Peace has provided shelter for over 10 000 children and their families.

A dedicated environmentalist, Anna has overseen Wilderness Society campaigns such as the Wesley Vale
Pulp Mill, Farmhouse Creek and Picton protest. She has also coordinated the Great Forest Walk.

Anna has received the following awards: the Pride of Australia Medal 2008; the ABC My Favourite Australian Unsung Hero 2008; Pride of Place National Portrait Gallery Canberra; Human Rights Medal 2010 for Tasmania and is the Tasmanian Senior Australian of the Year for 2013.