The Australian Women's Register

Summary

A member of the Liberal Party of Australia, Joan Sheldon was elected to the Parliament of Queensland at a by-election which was held for the seat of Landsborough in 1990. She was the third woman to be elected to the Queensland Parliament and the first outside Brisbane. In the electoral redistribution before the 1992 election, Joan Sheldon stood successfully for the new seat of Caloundra and remained the Member until her retirement in 2004. On her election to the leadership of the Parliamentary Liberal Party on 11 November 1991, she gained the distinction of becoming the first woman to lead a political party in Queensland and the first to lead a Liberal Party in Australia. She held that position until June 1998. During her period in parliament she served as Deputy Premier, Treasurer and Minister for the Arts and Women’s Policy from February 1996 until June 1998. She was Deputy Coalition Leader from November 1992 until June 1998.