Ex-Democrats leader Stott Despoja fights for a female caucus

Natasha Stott Despoja has been made an Officer of the Order of Australia for her advocacy for gender equality.

Former Democrats leader Natasha Stott Despoja. Picture: Conrad Stott Smith

Natasha Stott Despoja is calling for a cross-party women’s caucus in federal parliament so issues ­affecting women and children are adequately addressed.

The former Democrats leader, who has been made an Officer of the Order of Australia for her ­advocacy for gender equality and ending violence against women, said political allegiances must be put to the side in the interest of ­effective policy development.

“I dearly hope female MPs will work collaboratively to ensure there are policies that not only ­address the needs of women and children, but the community as a whole,” Ms Stott Despoja said.

“It is time for a women’s caucus in parliament, recognising of course that women are not homogenous, but I think there is a lot more that unites these women than divides them.” Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young is leading the charge for a women’s caucus after initiating discussions with female MPs from all sides of politics in recent months.

In 1995, Ms Stott Despoja, at 26, became the youngest woman to sit in federal parliament. She went on to lead the Democrats before quitting politics in 2008.

The 49-year-old lives in Adelaide with husband Ian Smith, a political lobbyist who ­became a Member of the Order of Australia last year for his philanthropic work. She remains a keen political ­observer but harbours no ambition to return to Canberra.