Natasha Stott Despoja
A trailblazing Australian politician who became the youngest woman in federal parliament and a formidable voice for gender equality and progressive reform.
Born 1969 (age 57)·Australian politician·Birthday: September 9·Generation X
Biography
Natasha Stott Despoja entered the national consciousness as a political prodigy, appointed to the Australian Senate at just 26. Her sharp intellect and passionate advocacy, honed in student politics, made her a standout figure in the Australian Democrats. She swiftly climbed to become the party's deputy leader and then its federal leader, bringing a fresh, articulate, and often fiery perspective to debates on republicanism, education, and women's rights. After her parliamentary career, she refused to fade from public life, instead channeling her influence into diplomacy and advocacy, serving as Australia's Ambassador for Women and Girls and founding the nonprofit 'Our Watch' to prevent violence against women. Her journey from the Senate's youngest woman to a respected elder statesperson on gender issues reflects a lifetime of breaking barriers and demanding a more equitable society.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Natasha was born in 1969, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Natasha Was Born
The biggest hits of 1969
#1 Movie
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
Best Picture
Midnight Cowboy
#1 TV Show
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
Natasha's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1969Born
Apollo 11: humans walk on the Moon; Woodstock festival
Gas: $0.35/galHome: $15,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Sugar, Sugar" — The ArchiesBest Picture: Midnight Cowboy
1974Started school
Nixon resigns the presidency
Gas: $0.53/galHome: $22,600Min wage: $2.00/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"The Way We Were" — Barbra StreisandBest Picture: The Godfather Part II
1982Became a teenager
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1985Could drive
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1987Could vote
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1990Turned 21
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1999Turned 30
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2009Turned 40
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2019Turned 50
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 57 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Appointed to the Australian Senate in 1995, becoming the youngest woman ever to serve in Federal Parliament at age 26.
- Served as the federal leader of the Australian Democrats from 2001 to 2002.
- Founded the national foundation 'Our Watch' dedicated to preventing violence against women and their children.
- Appointed as Australia's Ambassador for Women and Girls in 2013, advocating for gender equality in the Asia-Pacific region.
Did You Know?
She was a nominee for Australian of the Year in 2018.
She is a published author, having written a book on feminism for young adults titled 'The Girl's Guide to Changing the World'.
Her mother was a journalist and her father was a politician, giving her early exposure to public life.
She is a Distinguished Honorary Professor at the Australian National University.
“We need to ensure that women's voices are heard, that women's issues are addressed, and that women are represented.”
