Alicia O'Shea Petersen
Encyclopedia
Alicia O'Shea Petersen was a Tasmania
n suffragist and social reformer.
Alicia O'Shea Petersen was born in Tasmania. She became interested in women's and labor rights as a result of her own work in sweatshop
s. She was also influenced by her cousin John Earle
, who founded the Workers' Political League and became the first Labor
Premier of Tasmania in 1909.
She was the first woman in Tasmania
to stand as a political candidate, contesting the federal seat of Denison
in 1913. In 1922, when women were first eligible to stand for the Tasmanian House of Assembly
, she was a political candidate in Denison.
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
n suffragist and social reformer.
Alicia O'Shea Petersen was born in Tasmania. She became interested in women's and labor rights as a result of her own work in sweatshop
Sweatshop
Sweatshop is a negatively connoted term for any working environment considered to be unacceptably difficult or dangerous. Sweatshop workers often work long hours for very low pay, regardless of laws mandating overtime pay or a minimum wage. Child labour laws may be violated. Sweatshops may have...
s. She was also influenced by her cousin John Earle
John Earle (Australian politician)
John Earle was an Australian politician and the first Labor Premier of Tasmania.- Early life :Born into a farming family of Cornish descent in Bridgewater, Tasmania, Earle left home at 17 to work as a blacksmith's apprentice in a Hobart foundry...
, who founded the Workers' Political League and became the first Labor
Australian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
Premier of Tasmania in 1909.
She was the first woman in Tasmania
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
to stand as a political candidate, contesting the federal seat of Denison
Division of Denison
The Division of Denison is anAustralian Electoral Division in Tasmania.The division was created in 1903 and is named for Sir William Denison, who was Lt-Governor of Van Diemens Land 1847-55...
in 1913. In 1922, when women were first eligible to stand for the Tasmanian House of Assembly
Tasmanian House of Assembly
The House of Assembly, or Lower House, is one of the two chambers of the Parliament of Tasmania in Australia. The other is the Legislative Council or Upper House...
, she was a political candidate in Denison.