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Bartlett was born in Brisbane, Queensland. He gained qualifications in social work from the University of Queensland, and later a Bachelor of Arts. He worked as a social worker for the Department of Social Security, and later for the community radio station 4ZZZ. He also played in a number of local bands, as a drummer.

Bartlett joined the staff of Senator Cheryl Kernot following her election to the Senate in 1990. He also served as the secretary of the Queensland Division of the Australian Democrats. Kernot became leader of the party in 19931993 is a common year starting on Friday and marked the Beginning of the International Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination (1993-2003 Events January January 1 Czechoslovakia divides. Establishment of independent Slovakia and Czech Republic. — at this time Bartlett moved to Senator John Woodley 's staff. He was the Democrats' Queensland Campaign Director for the 19931993 is a common year starting on Friday and marked the Beginning of the International Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination (1993-2003 Events January January 1 Czechoslovakia divides. Establishment of independent Slovakia and Czech Republic. and 19961996 was a leap year starting on Monday (see link for calendar), and was designated the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty''. Events January January 5 Hamas operative Yahya Ayyash is killed by an Israeli-planted booby-trapped cell phone Jan elections. In 19971997 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar), and was designated the International Year of the Reef''. Events January January 3 NBC's Today Show Bryant Gumbel signs off for the last time January 8 Mister Rogers receives a star on t, when Kernot resigned to join the Australian Labor PartyThe Australian Labor Party or ALP is Australia's oldest political party. It is so-named because of its origins in and close links to the trade union movement. While Australians normally spell Labour with an "-our" ending, in the name of the party it is sp, and Bartlett was appointed to the Senate vacancy caused by Kernot's resignation.

In August 2002, Senator Natasha Stott DespojaNatasha Stott Despoja (born 1969) is an Australian politician. She was born in Adelaide, South Australia. She became a Senator for South Australia in 1995. She served as Deputy Leader of the Australian Democrats from 1997- 2001, and was Democrat leader fr resigned as leader of the Australian Democrats as a result of an internal, though very public, party dispute. Although Senator Aden RidgewayAden Derek Ridgeway (born 18 September, 1962) is an Australian Democrat politician. During his term he has been the only Aboriginal member of the Australian senate. He was born in Macksville, New South Wales, as one of the Gumbaynggir people. After leavin was the party's Deputy Leader, the national executive of the party appointed Senator Brian GreigBrian Andrew Greig (born February 22, 1966), Australian politician, has been an Australian Democrats member of the Australian Senate since July 1999, representing the state of Western Australia. Greig was born in Fremantle, but his family moved to the sma as interim leader until a ballot of members could be organised. At the ballot in October, Bartlett defeated Greig, winning 60% of the votes.

In December 2003 Bartlett stepped down as leader after an incident involving Liberal Senator Jeannie Ferris in the Senate chamber. Ferris said that Bartlett had stolen five bottles of wine from a Liberal Party function in Parliament House. When Ferris confronted Bartlett, she said, he grabbed her arm and called her a "fucking bitch", then followed her out of the chamber while verbally abusing her. Parliamentary video of part of the incident appeared to show that Bartlett was drunk in the chamber.

The next morning Bartlett did not deny any of Ferris's allegations. He said that his behaviour had been "totally unacceptable", and that he had apologised in writing to Senator Ferris, to the Senate, and to his party. The Democrats issued a statement stating that Deputy Leader Senator Lyn Allison would serve as the Acting Leader of the party. Bartlett's former employer, John Woodley, said in an interview that Bartlett had had a drinking problem for some time, something Bartlett himself appeared to confirm at a press conference.

In the week following the incident, senior Democrats including Stott Despoja said that they thought Bartlett should formally resign as Leader. Others said that he should be given an opportunity to deal with his problems. On 12 December Bartlett announced that he would not resign. He gave his party an assurance that he would totally abstain from drinking, which he repeated upon his resumption of the leadership in January 2004.

Although Bartlett kept his pledge to give up drinking, political commentators expressed doubts that his standing would recover from the December 2003 incident. He kept a low profile until the campaign for the 2004 election began in August. The Democrats were defending three Senate seats, and all three were lost, with one going to the Australian Greens and two to the Liberal Party. The Democrats polled their lowest vote since the party's creation in 1977.

After the election Bartlett said he would not resign, but would allow the party's membership to decide the future of his leadership, which is the party's standard practice. Nevertheless, on 2 November he did not nominate for the leadership, allowing Lyn Allison to be elected unopposed. Bartlett was elected Deputy Leader unopposed.