Anne Levy AO (b. 1934), politician and advocate for social policy reform and the advancement of women’s rights, was the first woman to preside in an Australian parliament. A Labor member of the South Australian parliament from 1975 to 1997, she oversaw the Office of the Status of Women as well as the Consumer Affairs, Arts, Local Government and State Services portfolios at various periods. Levy worked extensively in the areas of homosexual law reform, abortion law reform, euthanasia, rape law reform, childcare, maternity leave, equality in education for girls, equal pay and affirmative action. At the same time, she was a member of many organisations including the University of Adelaide, the Humanist Society, the Abortion Law Repeal Association and the Family Planning Association. Having played a key role in the implementation of the Equal Opportunity Act in 1983, she was President of the South Australian Legislative Council from 1993 to 1997. Levy received a Chevalier de la Legion d'Honneur for her work as honorary consul for France in South Australia from 2000 to 2005.
In 2011 the Royal Society of Arts of South Australia held a portrait painting competition in which four prominent citizens of Adelaide each sat to four different artists over the course of a single day. Painted that day by Hugh Adamson, this portrait captures Levy's vibrancy and energy through many layers of paint.
Gift of Anne Levy AO 2014
© Hugh Adamson
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