The former leader of the Australian Democrats, Janet Powell, has died aged 71 after a battle with pancreatic cancer.

Ms Powell served as a federal Senator from 1986 to 1993.

She represented Victoria from 1986 to 1992 as a Democrat before becoming an independent until she lost office in 1993.

During that time she became the leader of the Democrats for about a year in 1990.

Ms Powell was born in Nhill in western Victoria in 1942 and was a school teacher before entering parliament.

She was a tireless campaigner for women's rights and was recently appointed a Member of the Order of Australia.

Greens leader Christine Milne paid tribute her friend as a pioneer and role model for women in politics.

Former Democrats leader Natasha Stott Despoja said Ms Powell had been a "trail blazer".

"A woman not to be forgotten," she added.

ABC/AAP