New leader puts tax back on poll agenda

New Democrat Leader Senator Natasha Stott Despoja

In this story: Radical tradition continued Young voters targeted RELATED SITES

By CNN's Grant Holloway

CANBERRA, Australia -- Australia's political landscape has been re-drawn again with the weekend election of 31-year-old Natasha Stott Despoja as leader of the Democrat party.

Stott Despoja is the youngest person to lead a major Australian political party, and in 1995 became the youngest female to be elected to parliament.

The left-leaning Democrat Party is the third force in Australian politics, holding nine seats and the balance of power in Australia's upper house, called the Senate.

However that support has waned of late as alternative parties such as Pauline Hanson's One Nation and the Greens party have gained in popularity, particularly as vehicles for protest votes against the Liberal-National coalition government and the main opposition party, the Australian Labor Party.

The support of the Democrat Party for the government's goods and services tax, which was introduced in July last year, has also cost the Democrats in the opinion polls. Although the Democrats succeeded in substantially modifying the tax, the passage of that legislation effectively cost party leader Meg Lees her job.

Democrats national president Michael Macklin said both Stott Despoja and new deputy leader, Aboriginal politician Aden Ridgeway, were elected by "a considerable margin".

Radical tradition continued

"In electing Senator Natasha Stott Despoja to the leadership of the party, the members have continued a radical tradition," Macklin said.

"Constantly and consistently the Democrats have been able to move with the times and promote talent and capacity regardless of age, gender or cultural background."

Stott Despoja was vocal in her opposition to the deal former leader Lees struck with the government over the GST and her first move as new leader has been to signal that the party will revisit its tax policy. This could include rolling-back many elements of the GST, a policy also favored by the Labor Party.

"We're not going to discount possibilities to roll back ... GST on areas where it's affecting and hurting ordinary Australians," Stott Despoja told Channel Nine television.

Young voters targeted

Australia will likely go to polls towards the end of this year, with the ruling Coalition government battling to retain power in the face of a slowing economy, high petrol prices and strident opposition to the new tax.

Together with Ridgeway, the first Aborigine to be elected to a leadership position in a major political party, Stott Despoja stands a good chance of wresting back support to the Democrats from voters disaffected by the GST.

The new leadership will also target younger voters, presenting an appealing mix of socially liberal policies on issues such as education, the environment and Aboriginal affairs, along with protectionist economic policies.

Stott Despoja's appeal to younger voters is undoubted, with few other Australian politicans able to inspire fan-club websites complete with photo galleries and details of her likes and dislikes along with her policy positions.

Australian Democrats

Note: Pages will open in a new browser window

External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.