Madam SpeakerSubmission Guidelines

Thank you for your interest in contributing to Madam Speaker! We welcome suggestions from the wider public to help us celebrate and preserve impactful speeches by women and gender diverse people.

To ensure our collection upholds values of diversity, inclusivity and social progress, we kindly ask you to consider the following criteria before submitting:

  1. Key values

    We celebrate the voices, leadership capacity and power of women and gender diverse people. We will promote speeches that champion social justice, equity, inclusiveness and positive change.
  2. Respect for all

    We will not accept any speeches that reflect divisive ideologies, incite violence, promote hate, or target vulnerable groups. As a space for empowering and uplifting narratives, our Madam Speaker archive will reflect a deep commitment to respect and inclusivity.
  3. Final selections

    Our team carefully reviews each suggestion to determine its fit with Madam Speaker’s vision and aims. While we may not be able to include every submission, we greatly appreciate your input and enthusiasm for amplifying women’s voices.

Questions you may wish to consider before nominating a speech:

  • Is the speech about a notable event in Australian history?
  • Was it delivered in response to a significant social, environmental or political issue or other context?
  • Was the speech given at a watershed moment, a turning point or a moment of social transformation?
  • Did the speaker challenge and disrupt the accepted (masculine) tradition or dominant culture?

For the purposes of the Madam Speaker archive, a woman’s speech means:

  • The speech has been delivered by a person who identifies as a woman
  • The speech was given to an audience in public or semi-public event
  • Note: speeches from non-binary people are welcome; their permission will be sought before adding to the archive

Thank you for helping us build this archive with respect, integrity, and a shared vision of social progress!