In 1975 the world celebrated International Women’s Year, which produced a plan to advance the rights of girls and women around the globe and Australia was hailed as something of a trailblazer on gender equity.

In a world first, Gough Whitlam appointed a special advisor, Elizabeth Reid, to help guide government policy on a range of women’s issues.

But 50 years on, can Australia still claim to be a world leader on women’s rights and equality?