Special Achievements

1968-1969 - First woman Leader of the Government in Legislative Council (Upper House), Tasmania.  She was the first woman to hold the position in any Australian legislative council.

First female Member to present Budget in Southern Hemisphere.

Life Member of Tasmanian Branch of Australian Labor Party (ALP).

She was the longest serving woman of any State Parliament in Australia.

1952-1976 - Tasmanian Legislative Council, Australian Labor Party (ALP) for Hobart, Tasmania.

1956-1968, 1972-1976 - Deputy Leader Leader of the Government in Legislative Council (Upper House), Tasmania. 

Image - Phyllis Benjamin

Photo used with permission of The Parliament of Tasmania.

The Australian Women's Register. “Benjamin, Phyllis Jean (1907 - 1996)”. accessed 24 December 2019.

Swain, Shurlee. The Encyclopedia of Women and Leadership in Twentieth-Century Australia. “Benjamin, Phyllis”. accessed 25 December 2019.

Wikipedia. “Phyllis Benjamin”. accessed 25 December 2019.

Tasmanian Government. Department of Premier and Cabinet. “Phyllis Benjamin”. accessed 25 December 2019.

Parliament of Australia. "Part 2: Women members of Australian Parliaments 1921–2013, by time periods". accessed 1 February 2021.