Our History (Improved)

30 Years of Australian Democrats in the Senate

30 Years of Australian Democrats in the Senate

Janine Haines, SA Paul McLean, NSW 1987-91 Meg Lees, SA 1993-2002 Don Chipp, Vic 1977-86 Jean Jenkins, WA 1987-90 Natasha Stott Despoja, SA 1995-2008 Colin Mason, NSW 1978-83 Vicki Bourne, NSW 1990-2002 Lyn Allison, Vic 1996-2008 Michael Macklin, Qld 1981-90 Sid Spindler, Vic 1990-96 Andrew Murray, WA 1996-2008 John Siddons, Vic 1981-83, 1985-86 Cheryl Kernot, Qld 1990-97 Andrew Bartlett, Qld 2001-08 Jack Evans, WA 1983-85 John Coulter, SA 1990-95 Aden Ridgeway, NSW 1999-2005 David Vigor, SA 1985-87 Robert Bell, Tas 1990-96 Brian Greig, WA 1999-2005 Norm Sanders, Tas 1980-82 Karin Sowada, NSW 1991-93 John Cherry, Qld 2001-2005 Janet Powell, Vic 1986-92 John Woodley, Qld 1993-2001

We burst onto the Australian political arena in 1977 and secured the balance of power in 1980.

Since then, we’ve made our mark on Australian history and improved life for all Australians.

"The Democrats is a perfect party for me. I don’t like extremism and I won’t be told by any group that their ideas are 100% right and everybody else’s are 100% wrong, because that is patently not true"
- Janine Haines, An inspirational woman, Leader of the Democrats 1986-90