Fed: History making pair lead the Democrats

AAP General News (Australia)
04-08-2001
Fed: History making pair lead the Democrats

By Linda McSweeny

CANBERRA, April 8 AAP - The Australian Democrats have made political history by electing
Natasha Stott Despoja and Aden Ridgeway to the party's leadership.

Senator Stott Despoja, 31, is the youngest woman to lead a political party in Australia.

Her deputy Senator Ridgeway's achievement is perhaps more significant - he is the first
Aboriginal Australian to hold a leadership position in a federal political party.

Senator Stott Despoja first made her mark in federal politics six years ago, entering
the Senate aged 26 as the youngest woman ever elected to a federal parliament. She was
re-elected in 1996 and became deputy leader in 1997.

Her involvement with the Democrats began years earlier as a Young Democrat when she
worked with Dr John Coulter, whom she replaced in the Senate, and with former party leader
Cheryl Kernot, who later defected to Labor.

Senator Stott Despoja graduated from the University of Adelaide with an arts degree
and was once president of the Adelaide University Students' Association.

She was also the women's officer with the National Union of Students and has a keen
interest in education.

Prior to her decision to run as party leader, Senator Stott Despoja was touted as a
possible future leader of the national republican movement.

She has vowed to adopt a listen and learn approach in her new role as leader.

She is regarded by many colleagues and opponents as dynamic and energetic, but is realistic
about her image of life as party leader.

"It's tough. Because it is tough out there. Ask ordinary Australians, it's tough out
there. That's why they're considering alternatives like Pauline Hanson's One Nation,"

she said

"So we recognise it's tough and we're going to respond to that."

Senator Stott Despoja's first task will be to retain her Senate seat and those of four
of her colleagues due to face the polls later this year.

She must also try to recoup some lost ground evident from recent poor showings in the
West Australian and Queensland polls.

"I will be launching a membership drive," she said.

"My aim is to win back former members and to reach out to those many Australians looking
for political hope and vision."

Senator Ridgeway is serving his first term in parliament after being elected to the
Senate in October 1998.

Aged 38, he grew up on an Aboriginal reserve in northern New South Wales and is a member
of the Gumbayyngirr people.

He once worked for the NSW Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs and is responsible for cementing
employment policy for his people in the public service.

Senator Ridgeway has a long history of involvement in the state Aboriginal Land Council
and provided advice to the Howard and state Labor governments on native title.

He joined the Democrats in 1990 and is the party spokesman on financial services, arts,
Centenary of Federation, tourism and his passion, reconciliation.

In his first press conference as deputy leader, Senator Ridgeway vowed to continue
pressing the reconciliation cause while also helping to set a political agenda focused
on social justice, the environment and economic stability.

"People already know I have my own pet compassion if you like, passion to do with reconciliation,"

he said.

"I see it as crucial in terms of national leadership being shown and I'll continue
to do it in this parliament."

Senator Ridgeway lives in Sydney with his wife, Stephanie.

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KEYWORD: DEMOCRATS LEADERS (PROFILE)

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