List of political parties in Australia

List of political parties in Australia - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia a.new,#quickbar a.new{color:#ba0000} /* cache key: enwiki:resourceloader:filter:minify-css:4:f2a9127573a22335c2a9102b208c73e7 */ if ( window.mediaWiki ) { mw.config.set({"wgCanonicalNamespace": "", "wgCanonicalSpecialPageName": false, "wgNamespaceNumber": 0, "wgPageName": "List_of_political_parties_in_Australia", "wgTitle": "List of political parties in Australia", "wgCurRevisionId": 458049477, "wgArticleId": 396356, "wgIsArticle": true, "wgAction": "view", "wgUserName": null, "wgUserGroups": ["*"], "wgCategories": ["All articles with unsourced statements", "Articles with unsourced statements from April 2010", "Lists of political parties", "Political parties in Australia", "Defunct political parties in Australia", "Australia-related lists"], "wgBreakFrames": false, "wgRestrictionEdit": [], "wgRestrictionMove": [], "wgSearchNamespaces": [0], "wgFlaggedRevsParams": {"tags": {"status": {"levels": 1, "quality": 2, "pristine": 3}}}, "wgStableRevisionId": null, "wgVectorEnabledModules": {"collapsiblenav": true, "collapsibletabs": true, "editwarning": true, "expandablesearch": false, "footercleanup": false, "sectioneditlinks": false, "simplesearch": true, "experiments": true}, "wgWikiEditorEnabledModules": {"toolbar": true, "dialogs": true, "hidesig": true, "templateEditor": false, "templates": false, "preview": false, "previewDialog": false, "publish": false, "toc": false}, "wgTrackingToken": "de240db3bf354741d548189055e3a9c3", "wikilove-recipient": "", "wikilove-edittoken": "+\\", "wikilove-anon": 0, "mbEditToken": "+\\", "Geo": {"city": "", "country": ""}, "wgNoticeProject": "wikipedia"}); } if ( window.mediaWiki ) { mw.loader.load(["mediawiki.page.startup"]); } List of political parties in Australia From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to: navigation, search This article lists political parties in Australia. Australia has a mild two-party system.citation needed There are two dominant political groupings in the Australian political system, and aspects of the Australian electoral system have made it difficult for other parties or independents to gain parliamentary representation.citation needed Nevertheless, the system of preferential voting used in Australian elections, combined with proportional representation for most Upper House elections, makes it easier for minor parties and independents to gain representation in Australia than in some other two-party election systems, such as that of the United States. In order to register as a political party applicants must have a constitution outlining the basis of the party and either at least one member in Parliament or 500 members on the electoral roll.1 Parties may be "deregistered" if they no longer meet these requirements. Contents 1 Federal parliamentary parties and their leaders 2 Current parties 2.1 Current parliamentary representation of minor parties 2.2 Registered for elections with the AEC 2.3 Registered with state electoral bodies only 3 Defunct parties 4 See also 5 References Federal parliamentary parties and their leaders Name (English) Abbr. Leader Ideology Position International organisations Votes (2010) Seats in House of Representatives Seats in Senate Notes Australian Labor Party ALP Julia Gillard Social democracy centre-left Socialist International 38.0% 72 31 Liberal Party of Australia Lib Tony Abbott Liberal conservatism centre-right International Democrat Union 39.9%* 66* 29 In coalition since 1944 with the National Party of Australia National Party of Australia Nat. Warren Truss Rural conservatism centre-right none 3.7% 7 5 In coalition since 1944 with the Liberal Party of Australia Australian Greens GRN Bob Brown Green Politics left-wing Global Greens 11.8% 1 9 Democratic Labor Party DLP John Madigan Social conservatism right-wing none 0.04% 0 1 Liberal Party figures include Liberal National Party of Queensland and Country Liberal Party of Northern Territory. Two political groups dominate the Australian political spectrum, forming a de facto two party system. One is the Australian Labor Party (ALP), a centre-left party which is formally linked to the Australian labour movement. Formed in 1893, it has been a major party federally since 1901, and has been one of the two major parties since the 1910 Federal election. Currently, the ALP is in government federally, and in most of Australia's states and territories, the exceptions being New South Wales, Western Australia and Victoria. The other group is a conservative grouping of parties that are in coalition at the Federal level, as well as in New South Wales and Victoria, but compete in Western Australia and South Australia. The main party in this group is the centre-right Liberal Party. The Liberal Party is the modern form of a conservative grouping that has existed since the fusion of the Protectionist Party and Free Trade Party into the Commonwealth Liberal Party in 1909. Although this group has changed its nomenclature, there has been a general continuity of MPs and structure between different forms of the party. In its modern form, it was founded by Robert Menzies in 1944. The party's philosophy is generally liberal conservatism, although it has moved rightwards since the 1980s. Every elected Prime Minister of Australia since 1910 has been a member of either the Labor Party, the Liberal Party, or one of the Liberal Party's previous incarnations (the Commonwealth Liberal Party, the Nationalist Party of Australia, or the United Australia Party). The Liberal Party is joined by the National Party, a party that seek to represent rural interests, especially agricultural ones. The Nationals contest a limited number of seats and does not generally directly compete with the Liberal Party. Its ideology is generally more socially-conservative than that of the Liberal Party. In 1987, the National Party made an abortive run for the Prime Ministership in its own right, in the Joh for Canberra campaign. However, it has generally not aspired to become the majority party in the coalition, and it is generally understood that the Prime Minister of Australia will be a member of either the Labor or Liberal parties. On two occasions (involving Earle Page in 1939, and John McEwen) from December 1967 - January 1968, the leader of the National Party (then known as the Country Party) became the Prime Minister temporarily, upon the death of the incumbent P.M. Sir Arthur Fadden was the only other Country Party P.M. He assumed office in August 1941 after the resignation of Sir Robert Menzies, and served as Prime Minister until October of that year. The Liberal and National parties have merged in Queensland and the Northern Territory, although the resultant parties are different. The Liberal National Party of Queensland, formed in 2008, is a branch of the Liberal Party, but it is affiliated with the Nationals and members elected to federal parliament may sit as either Liberals or Nationals. The Country Liberal Party was formed in 1978 when the Northern Territory gained responsible government. It is a separate member of the federal coalition, but it is affiliated the two major members and its president has voting rights in the National Party. The name refers to the older name of the National Party. Federally, these parties are collectively known as the Coalition. The Coalition has existed continually (between the Nationals and their predecessors, and the Liberals and their predecessors) since 1923, with minor breaks in 1940, 1973, and 1987. Historically, support for either the Coalition or the Labor Party was often viewed as being based around class, with the middle classes supporting the Coalition and the working class supporting Labor. In more recent times, this has been a less important factor because the 1970s and 1980s saw the Labor Party gain a significant bloc of middle-class support and the Coalition gain a significant bloc of working class support.2 The two-party duopoly has been relatively stable, with the two groupings (Labor and Coalition) gaining at least 70% of the primary vote in every election since 1910 (including the votes of autonomous state parties). Third parties have only rarely received more than 10% of the vote for the Australian House of Representatives in a Federal election, such as the Australian Greens in the 2010 Federal election and the Australian Democrats in the 1990 Federal election, which indicates the stability of the Australian two-party system. Besides the two major party groupings, two other parties are currently of some significance in Australian political system. The first is the Australian Greens, at present seen as being the "third force" in Australian politics. It is a left wing and environmentalist party, generally achieving 7-13% of votes in elections conducted after 2004. The Greens party has superseded the formerly significant Australian Democrats, which was the largest third party between 1977 and 2004. The other party of some note is the Family First Party. Family First is a relatively recent party, with a Christian-influenced platform appealing mainly to social conservatives. They have achieved some success in recent elections, polling around 2% of the national vote. The proportional representation system has allowed these parties to win seats in the Senate, but wins in the House of Representatives have been rare. Noteworthy was The Greens victory at the 2010 Federal election in the Federal seat of Melbourne. Other political parties which have been of some significance in the past (since World War II), in terms of shaping Australian politics, include the Democratic Labor Party, One Nation Party, Nuclear Disarmament Party, the Australia Party, the Liberal Movement, and the Communist Party of Australia. Current parties Current parliamentary representation of minor parties This is a list of parliamentary representation of minor parties at the Federal and State levels: Australian Greens: 34 (Federal 10, NSW 6, Tasmania 5, Western Australia 4, ACT 4, Victoria 3, South Australia 2) Katter's Australian Party: 3 (Federal 1, Queensland 2) Family First Party: 2 (South Australia) Shooters and Fishers Party: 2 (NSW) Christian Democratic Party: 2 (NSW) Democratic Labor Party (DLP): 1 (Federal) Dignity for Disability: 1 (South Australia) Registered for elections with the AEC Animal Justice Party Australian Democrats Australia First Party (NSW) Incorporated Australian Fishing and Lifestyle Party Australian Greens Australian Labor Party (ALP) Australian Protectionist Party Australian Sex Party Building Australia Party Carers Alliance Christian Democratic Party (Fred Nile Group) Citizens Electoral Council of Australia Communist Alliance Country Alliance Country Liberals (Northern Territory) Democratic Labor Party (DLP) of Australia Family First Party Help End Marijuana Prohibition (HEMP) Party Katter's Australian Party Liberal Democratic Party Liberal Party of Australia Liberal National Party of Queensland National Party of Australia Non-Custodial Parents Party (Equal Parenting) One Nation Republican Party of Australia Secular Party of Australia Senator Online (Internet Voting Bills/Issues) Shooters and Fishers Party Socialist Alliance Socialist Equality Party Stable Population Party of Australia The Climate Sceptics The First Nations Political Party For latest details see: http://aec.gov.au/Parties_and_Representatives/Party_Registration/Registered_parties/index.htm Registered with state electoral bodies only Australian Motorist Party (Australian Capital Territory) Community Alliance Party (Australian Capital Territory) Daylight Saving for South East Queensland (Queensland) Dignity For Disability (South Australia) Fair Land Tax - Tax Party (South Australia) FREE Australia Party (South Australia) Gamers 4 Croydon (South Australia) No Parking Meters Party (New South Wales) Outdoor Recreation Party (New South Wales) Restore the Workers' Rights Party (New South Wales) Save Our State (New South Wales) Save the RAH (South Australia) Stormy Summers Reform Party (South Australia) The Fishing Party (New South Wales) The Queensland Party (Queensland) United Party (South Australia) Unity Party (New South Wales) Defunct parties These organisations are no longer registered with any federal, state or territory political bodies, and can thus no longer contest elections. A number of these may still exist as organisations in some form, but none are any longer officially recognised as political parties. 4Change (formerly the Climate Change Coalition) Abolish Self Government Coalition Advance Australia Party (formerly the Rex Connor Labor Party) All for Australia League Australia Party Australian Bill of Rights Group Australian Commonwealth Party Australian Conservative Party Australian Family Movement Australian Labor Party (Anti-Communist) Australian Labor Party (Non-Communist) Australian Labor Party (NSW) Australian Marijuana Party Australian Nationalist Party Australian Party Australian Progressive Alliance Australian Reform Party Australian Women's Party (1995) Australians Against Further Immigration (AAFI) Australia's Indigenous Peoples Party Confederate Action Party of Australia Centre-Line Party City Country Alliance Combined New Australia Party Commonwealth Centre Party Commonwealth Liberal Party Commonwealth Party Communist Party of Australia (1920–1991) Communist Party of Australia (revived) Conservative Party of Australia Country and Progressive National Party Country Progressive Party Curtin Labor Alliance Deadly Serious Party Defence and Ex-Services Party Defence of Government Schools Democratic Labor Party (1955-78) Democratic Party Democratic Party (New South Wales) Democratic Socialist Electoral League Engineered Australia Plan Party Environmentalists for Nuclear Energy Australia Ex-Service, Service and Veterans Party Family Law Reform Party Free Trade Party Great Australians Party Grey Power Hear Our Voice Hope Party Australia Human Rights Party Illawarra Workers Party Independent EFF Independent Labor Group Industrial Labor Party Industrial Socialist Labor Party Lang Labor Liberal and Country League Liberal Country Party Liberal Democratic Party Liberal Movement Liberal Reform Group Liberal Reform Party Liberal Party (1922) liberals for forests Libertarian Party of Australia Lower Excise Fuel and Beer Party Majority Labor Party National Alliance (WA) National Liberal Party Natural Law Party No Aircraft Noise National Action National Humanitarian Party National Socialist Party of Australia Nationalist Party of Australia New Country Party New England New State Movement New LM No GST Party Nuclear Disarmament Party One Australia Movement One Australia Party One Nation NSW One Parliament for Australia Party! Party! Party! Pauline's United Australia Party Pensioner and Citizen Initiated Referendum Alliance (formerly Pensioner Party of Australia) People Power Party Progress Party Progressive Conservative Party Progressive Labour Party Progressive Party Progressive Party (1920) Protectionist Party Protestant Labor Party Protestant People's Party Queensland Farmers' Union Queensland Labor Party Reclaim Australia: Reduce Immigration Referendum First Group Reform the Legal System Revenue Tariff Party SA First Single Tax League Social Democratic Party State Labor Party Sun Ripened Warm Tomato Party Surprise Party Tasmania First Party Tasmania Senate Team Taxi Operators Political Service Unite Australia Party United Australia Party United Christian Party United Country Party United Tasmania Group Western Australian Party What Women Want See also Politics of Australia List of political parties by country References ^ "overview". Aec.gov.au. 2007-12-07. http://aec.gov.au/Parties_and_Representatives/Party_Registration/overview.htm. Retrieved 2010-06-16.  ^ "OzPolitics.info". OzPolitics.info. http://www.ozpolitics.info/guide/parties/contest/. Retrieved 2010-06-16.  v · d · e Political parties in Australia Country Liberal Party · Democratic Labor Party · Greens · Labor Party · Liberal National Party · Liberal Party · National Party Politics of Australia · Politics portal · List of political parties v · d · eList of political parties in Oceania Sovereign states Australia East Timor (Timor-Leste) Fiji Indonesia Kiribati Marshall Islands Federated States of Micronesia Nauru New Zealand Palau Papua New Guinea Samoa Solomon Islands Tonga Tuvalu Vanuatu Dependencies and other territories American Samoa Christmas Island Cocos (Keeling) Islands Cook Islands Easter Island French Polynesia Guam Hawaii New Caledonia Niue Norfolk Island Northern Mariana Islands Pitcairn Islands Tokelau Wallis and Futuna v · d · ePolitics of Australia Commonwealth Queen · Governor-General · Prime Minister · Cabinet · Executive Council · Ministry · Foreign relations Parliament · Senate · House of Representatives · Opposition Leader High Court · Lower courts Constitution Act · Statute of Westminster · Australia Act Federal elections pre-1969 · 1969 · 1972 · 1974 · 1975 · 1977 · 1980 · 1983 · 1984 · 1987 · 1990 · 1993 · 1996 · 1998 · 2001 · 2004 · 2007 · 2010 · Next · by-elections State/territory governments Governors and Administrators  · Premiers and Chief Ministers  · Parliaments and Assemblies State/Territorial elections Most recent NSW (2011 election) · Vic (2010 election) · Qld (2009 election) · WA (2008 election) · SA (2010 election) · Tas (2010 election) · ACT (2008 election) · NT (2008 election) Next NSW · Vic · Qld · WA · SA · Tas · ACT · NT Local government In: NSW  · Vic  · Qld · WA · SA · Tas · NT Political parties Labor · Coalition (Liberal, National, LNP, CLP) · Greens · DLP · Other parties