Australian Independents

The Australian Independents was a political party in Australia formed in direct response to an Australian populace who, they argued, were increasingly disenchanted with the current options available to them. They felt that there were two major parties with little real difference between them, and voters who felt they were "wasting their vote" on two equally unsatisfying opponents who only sought the concerns of their constituents near election times.[1]

Moreover, the Australian Independents arose to offer change, viable solutions, consistent checking-in with voters throughout the entire term in office, positive political conduct, focus on business development and enterprise, and better fiscal balance between social need and strong policy support for business nationwide.

History

The Australian Independents was founded in June 2012 by Patricia Petersen. It was registered with the Australian Electoral Commission on 16 July 2013.[2] The party represented an attempt to organise independent-minded representation nationally.[3] The Australian Independents were the only minor party to run Senate candidates in all states and territories in the 2013 federal election. It nominated candidates in five lower house seats.[4] Its Senate candidates received a total of 45,441 first preference votes, 0.34% of the total votes cast.[5]

The party was involved in Glenn Druery's Minor Party Alliance in 2013. However, Druery reneged on a preference arrangement, which cost Petersen a Senate seat. Petersen went public with Druery's "double-dipping", which culminating in the following voicemail from Druery: "Cease immediately or I will have a writ up your arse so quick you won't see the fucking sunshine, lady".[6]

The party was deregistered by the AEC on 4 February 2016, after failing to demonstrate the requisite 500 members to maintain registration.[7]

Philosophies

  1. All political representatives and parliamentarians should at all times attempt to represent their electorates.
  2. All political representatives and parliamentarians should at all times demonstrate the capacity to shelve their own beliefs, views and policy priorities in order to accurately represent the wishes of their divisions/wards/electorates.
  3. To provide an opportunity for constituents/voters to distinguish between genuinely independent candidates from those who are members of and or who are aligned with political ‘parties’.
  4. To endorse genuinely independent candidates for Council, House of Representatives and Senate elections.
  5. To actively encourage and promote community participation in policy development.
  6. To push for community driven and directed policies to be embraced by local, state and federal governments.
  7. To see elected, representatives who will provide strong opposition to government policies which are at odds with the wishes of the majority of constituents within their divisions/wards/electorates.
  8. To push for politically disciplined, ethically oriented and community sensitive representatives to be elected at local, state and federal elections.
  9. To promote and demand democracy.[8]

References

  1. ↑ http://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Senate/Research_and_Education/pops/pop38/~/link.aspx?_id=AC6C7A66BBC149AC9C675C57939B5591&_z=z
  2. ↑ http://www.aec.gov.au/Parties_and_Representatives/Party_Registration/Registered_parties/australian-independents.htm
  3. ↑ http://www.australianindependents.org.au/the_party.html
  4. ↑ http://www.aec.gov.au/Elections/Federal_Elections/2013/index.htm
  5. ↑ Australian Election Commission Virtual Tally Room: the official election results
  6. ↑ Bitter dispute erupts over Senate preferences in Queensland: ABC 5 September 2013
  7. ↑ Australian Independents, AEC, 5 February 2016
  8. ↑ http://www.australianindependents.org.au/the_party.html
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