She was a prominent party official in South Australia from the party's early days, serving on the national executive for several years, becoming a key supporter of Senator Janine Haines, and serving as both state secretary and national deputy president at the time of her own election to parliament.
[1] She entered parliament at a May 1982 by-election upon the resignation of Millhouse,[2] then the Democrats' sole House of Assembly MP and state leader.
[3][4][5] She was defeated by Liberal candidate Stephen Baker, at the state election six months later.
During her six months in parliament, she served as the party's state parliamentary leader,[6] which would make her the first woman to lead an Australian parliamentary political party;[7] however Lance Milne is also given as the Democrats' leader at that time.
[1] She was made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in June 1991 for service to the community, particularly in the field of women's affairs.