In October 1997, party leader Cheryl Kernot resigned, announcing that she would be joining the Australian Labor Party. (Five years later it was revealed that she had been in a sexual relationship with Labor deputy leader Gareth Evans). Kernot resigned from the Senate and was replaced by Andrew Bartlett, while deputy Meg Lees became the new party leader.
In October 1997 party leader Cheryl Kernot resigned announcing that she would be joining the Australian Labor Party (Five years later it was revealed that she had been in a sexual relationship with Labor deputy leader Gareth Evans) Kernot resigned from the Senate and was replaced by Andrew Bartlett while deputy Meg Lees became the new party leader