Meg Heather Lees (née Francis, born 19 October 1948) is an Australian former politician who served as a Senator for South Australia from 1990 until 2005. She represented the Australian Democrats from 1990 to 2002, and was her party's leader from 1997 to 2001. As party leader she controversially facilitated passage of the Howard government's Goods and Services Tax (GST). This decision ultimately split the party and began a series of damaging leadership spills and resignations, destroying their public support and causing the party to be effectively defunct after the 2007 Australian federal election that saw their final four Senators lose their seats.
After being deposed by Natasha Stott Despoja, she quit the party to sit as an independent senator in 2002, adopting the party designation Australian Progressive Alliance from 2003 until her term expired in 2005, following her defeat at the 2004 election.
Early life
Lees was born to Heather Francis, a music teacher, and Edwin Francis, a builder, in Mount Riverview, New South Wales. Lees is the eldest of four children, and has three brothers.
Lees mother, Heather Francis, described her as "headstrong" and "always had a mind of her own." Lees was interested in sports from a young age, playing hockey, tennis, and softball.
Lees was raised in the Catholic Apostolic Church, a strict fundamentalist religion, and was not allowed to mix freely with other children. At the age of 13, she refused to attend the Church's services. "I had friends at South Strathfield High School who were going to the Anglican Church so I started going with them." Her father was "Not terribly impressed," that she was attending Anglican Church services, but felt it was "Better that she was going to church than not going to church at all." The two began competing in racing competitions at the national level, racing their own Mini Cooper S at Amaroo Park and Oran Park Raceway.
Upon her appointment, Lees became the Democrats spokesperson for Health, Women, Treasury and Prime Minister and Cabinet. In 1996, Lees amended legislation to establish the Medical Training Review Panel.
Leader of the Australian Democrats
Cheryl Kernot defected to the Australian Labor Party in October 1997, and Lees was called upon to stand in as acting leader. She was officially chosen as Kernot's replacement in December, with Natasha Stott Despoja becoming her deputy.
During her time as leader, the Democrats strengthened the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Act, improved the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, negotiated the GST tax reform and maintained the general oversight role of the Democrats in the Senate through a number of Senate inquiries.
In 1999, Prime Minister John Howard proposed the idea of a Goods and Services Tax. It was opposed by the Labor Party, the Australian Greens and independent Senator Brian Harradine, which meant that it required Democrat support to pass. In an election fought on tax, the Democrats publicly stated that they liked neither the Liberal (GST) tax package nor the Labor package, but pledged to work with whichever party was elected to make their tax package better. They campaigned with the slogan "No GST on food". A majority of the senators in the party room agreed to pass the bill if some amendments were made, mostly to exclude fresh food and essential items such as basic medicines. Stott Despoja stated that she was unhappy with the outcome, particularly the GST on books. Both Stott Despoja and Queensland Senator Andrew Bartlett ultimately crossed the floor to vote against the GST package. Lees defended her position by saying, "Yes, we did not get everything... but we got an awful lot... It is one of the few chances a third party has to loosen the purse strings." and claimed that Stott Despoka had moved the party too far to the left. This culminated in Lees leaving the party to sit as an independent in July 2002.
Lees was active in the establishment of the Child Nutrition Programme in 1999, the Alcohol Education and Rehabilitation Foundation in 2001, and funding for Nyangatjatjara College, an indigenous college at Yulara in the Northern Territory in 2002. Lees also campaigned successfully for an alternative style of prescriptions, allowing for lifestyle changes to be included in doctors’ recommendations. Lees was also a member of the Parliamentary Delegation to Canada and China in late 2002.
Australian Progressive Alliance
In April 2003, Lees announced the founding of the Australian Progressive Alliance, which she claimed would have a more centrist view than the Democrats. However, she was defeated at the 2004 federal election and her term expired on 30 June 2005.
In 2003, Lees played a key role in convincing the Howard Government to trial Datacasting, technology capable of allowing for more accessible information and education services, to be conducted by the Australian Broadcasting Authority.
From 2006 to 2009, Lees was the chief executive officer of the Multiple Sclerosis Society of South Australia and Northern Territory.
In 2018, at the annual Australia Day Awards, Lees was made an Officer of the Order of Australia for her service to the Parliament and contributions to environmental and taxation reform.
Climate 200
In 2021, Meg Lees joined Climate 200, an Australian climate advocacy group as a member of its advisory council, along with former independent MPs, Rob Oakeshott, Tony Windsor, and Kerryn Phelps, along with Liberal-turned-Independent Julia Banks. Lees joined the council, stating that "“if ever there was a need to keep the bastards honest now is the time,” and that she was "horrified" at the current state of politics.
Personal life
Lees undertook a study tour of the United Kingdom in July 2000, and Thailand in June 2001.