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The Australian Democrats are also the party that is most interested in allowing Australians human rights protections similar to those guaranteed in the [USA constitution]? and also given by various means in most western Eurpoean countries. The major political parties in Australia have for the most part actively opposed this, though the Australian Labor Party has occasionally swung the other way to some extent. |
Its agenda includes interventionist? economic policies, commitment to environmental causes, support for reconciliation? with Australia's indigenous population through such mechanisms as formal treaties, pacifist? approaches to international relations, support for science and the arts, and liberal approaches to social issues such as sexuality and drugs, and constitutional and treaty protections for human rights. Its core support base is overwhelmingly tertiary-educated?, and middle-class?.
Support for the Democrats has tended to fluctuate between about 5 and 10 percent of the population and is geographically distributed around the wealthier suburbs of the [capital cities]? (notably Adelaide?). They have therefore never managed to win a [House of Representatives]? seat, but typically win one or two Senate? seats in each state in [federal elections]?.
As of 26-Sep-2001, the current leader of the Australian Democrats is Senator [Natasha Stott-Despoja]?.
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