Retirement From Parliament
On 22 October 2006, after undergoing emergency surgery for an ectopic pregnancy, she announced that she would not be contesting the 2007 election to extend her term beyond 30 June 2008. She was the Australian Democrats' longest-serving senator. Her retirement coincided with the ending of her party's federal parliamentary representation; the Democrats' support had collapsed after 2002 and they won no seats at the 2004 and 2007 half-senate elections.
She is married to former Liberal party advisor Ian Smith.
She is a regular commentator on the Australia business news website Business Spectator.
Currently Stott Despoja is a board member of non-profit organisations Burnet Institute (Australia's largest virology and communicable disease research institute) and beyondblue (Australia's national depression initiative).
On 13 June 2011, Stott Despoja was named a Member of the Order of Australia for service to the Parliament of Australia, particularly as a Senator for South Australia, through leadership roles with the Australian Democrats, to education, and as a role model for women.
Read more about this topic: Natasha Stott Despoja, Career
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