Assistant Minister for Women, Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care, Assistant Minister for Indigenous Health
On International Women's Day, Tasmanians are being urged to take action to recognise the outstanding women in their communities by nominating them for Australian Honours.
Women received just 27.1 per cent of awards in the Australia Day Honours 2026 list, 184 of 680 recipients. This is down from 34.76 per cent at the King's Birthday Awards in 2025 and 46.8 per cent at Australia Day in 2025. While more people received awards overall in 2026, the increase was largely driven by a higher number of men receiving awards.
Of the four levels of award in the Order of Australia, the Companion of the Order was the only level to achieve gender parity this year, with five women and five men recognised.
The decline in women's representation reflects both a drop in the number of women nominated and the way longstanding backlogs in the Honours system have been processed. In 2026, 309 nominations for women were considered, compared to 737 nominations for men.
While women's success rate from nomination to award improved to 59.5 per cent, up from 57.2 per cent in 2025, it remains below the men's success rate of 67.3 per cent.
In Tasmania women only received 14 per cent of awards in the 2026 Australia Day Honours, 3 of 21 recipients, marking a significant decline in women's representation locally.
The Australian Honours recognise service, leadership, innovation and dedication across every sector. From community volunteering and health care to education, sport, business and the arts. Across Tasmania, women are leading change in their workplaces, supporting their communities and strengthening the state, yet too often their contributions go unrecognised.
Achieving gender balance in the Honours system requires ongoing community effort. This includes nominating more women across a wider range of fields and ensuring the system reflects the full diversity of service and leadership in Australia.
Tasmanians are encouraged to consider the women in their workplaces, sporting clubs, volunteer organisations, health services, schools and businesses whose service may have gone unrecognised, and to take the step to nominate them for an Australian Honour.
Quotes attributable to Assistant Minister for Women, Rebecca White
"International Women's Day is a moment to celebrate the achievements of women, but it's also a chance to take simple, practical steps to lift women up.
"One powerful way to do that is by nominating a Tasmanian woman for an Australian Honour to ensure her contribution is recognised.
"Women across Tasmania, are making extraordinary contributions in our schools, hospitals, businesses, sporting clubs and community organisations. Their leadership and service deserve national recognition.
"Gender balance in the Honours system will not happen by chance. It takes all of us putting forward the names of women whose work has shaped our communities and made our state better."
