Historical moments: The view from WEL

The Womens Electoral Lobby (WEL) was formed as part of the second-wave womens movement in Australia. The first actions and meetings of the new movement emerged from anti- Vietnam War activism and left political circles to become womens liberation in late 1969.1 These groups were engaged in consciousness-raising and also took direct action against external targets to express their rejection of sexism and to challenge patriarchy. Womens liberation groups, along with others, later became involved in establishing refuges and womens health centres.2 With some overlap but also many new members, WEL was initially formed to conduct a candidate survey for the 1972 federal election.3 After 1972, WEL continued to pursue changes through government machinery and policy. Several movement-wide conferences were held, but no umbrella organisation or peak body developed. Instead, as in most other Western countries, the womens movement diversified without an organisational or deliberative centre. While the effects and projects of the womens liberation groups are manifold, this stream of the movement has not been institutionalised or maintained by a structure, in contrast with WEL, which still has an organisational identity and structures to this day.