Women must obey the laws and should have a voice in making them

Vida Goldstein was an Australian feminist and social activist. Her career as an activist began in 1890, when she helped her mother collect signatures for the Woman Suffrage Petition. Goldstein soon joined other social welfare activities and attended sessions at Victoria's parliament. In 1903 Goldstein and three other women were the first women in the British Empire to be nominated and to stand for election to a national parliament. She lost the election but continued to fight for women's voting rights. In her later years, Goldstein helped found the scientology church in Australia. Goldstein received numerous honours after her death. In 1984 a Melbourne electoral division was named the Division of Goldstein in her honour, and in 2001 she was inducted into the Victorian Honour Roll of Women.