Former Democrats leader dies aged 70

FORMER Democrats leader Janet Powell has died after losing a battle with pancreatic cancer.

Ms Powell, 70, died on Monday night after fighting cancer for a year.

She represented Victoria from 1986 to 1992 as a Democrat before becoming an independent senator until she lost office in 1993.

She initially filled a casual vacancy after party founder Don Chipp left the Senate, then won a seat the following year.

Ms Powell led the Democrats from 1990-1991.

She stood down following internal party ructions stemming from moves to potentially merge the party with the Greens, and her affair with fellow Democrat senator Sid Spindler.

She was born in Nhill in western Victoria in 1942 and was a school teacher before entering parliament.

In 2012, she was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for her service to politics and community work with the YWCA.

She joined the Australian Greens in 2004.

Greens leader Christine Milne paid tribute her friend as a pioneer and role model for women in politics.

Former Democrats leader Natasha Stott Despoja said Ms Powell had been a "trail blazer."

"A woman not to be forgotten," she said.

Former Victorian premier Joan Kirner said Ms Powell broke new ground for women in politics.

Former Greens leader Bob Brown said Australia has lost a champion of progressive politics.

"Janet led the Democrats in the greening of Australian politics," he said.

Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang

Former Democrats leader dies aged 70

Dengan url

http://lagisuntuks.blogspot.com/2013/10/former-democrats-leader-dies-aged-70.html

Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya

Former Democrats leader dies aged 70

namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link

Former Democrats leader dies aged 70

sebagai sumbernya