Independent and Minority parties in Australian Politics

8/9/2019 Independent and Minority parties in Australian Politics

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Michelle Dang

SID: 450160165

Political parties are generally argued to be the main and crucial link beteen citi!ens

and the state" balancing the interests o# their political ideologies and that o# their supporters$

%t current" the entrenchment o# &abor and the &iberal'(ational )oalition as the to ma*or

political institutions ithin %ustralian politics re#lects the suggesti+ely impenetrable plane o#

party politics$ ,he #amiliar pattern o# minor and third party challenge #ailures gi+es rise to the

increasingly apparent argument o# hether or not %ustralian politics embodies an accurate

depiction o# representati+e democracy$ In the recent May -014 .oint Standing )ommission

on /lectoral Matters herea#ter .S)/M" contains si2 prescribed recommendations e+ol+ing

around party registration restrictions seemingly #urthering the disad+antaged minor and

Independent parties already lacking the political support and security held by their ma*or

counterparts$ ,his en3uiry highlights the hardships encountered by minor parties and

Independents in asserting their party disciplines and contributing as acti+e participants in

public policy making$ ,his essay attempts to submit the essential presence o# minor parties

and Independents in the sustaining representati+e democracy" arguing that by challenging

pre+ailing party policies ith di+erse party ideologies" a greater scope o# citi!en interests may

be represented ithin %ustralian politics$

% minor party is obser+ed to be a party that consistently #ails to achie+e inclusion in

the o+ernment .oint Standing )ommission on /lectoral Matters .S)/M" -014" p$ 55"

1$--$ 7#ten times" minority parties encounter barriers such as economic #unding" lo

recognition and +oting techni3ues in particular$ /lectoral systems that permit abo+e the line

+oting" systematically denies the supporters o# indi+idual candidates the opportunity to +ote

8abo+e the line$8 9oe+er" this issue is surmounted hen otherise Independent candidates

#orm a group ith another candidate and register their name as a party grouping to #ul#il

group party criteria$ ,his is demonstrated in the -00 Senate election in South %ustralia in


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Michelle Dang

SID: 450160165

hich (ick ;enophon ran ith another candidate as a party grouping hich success#ully

resulted in his election into the Senate$ ,he strong incenti+e #or Independent candidates to

#orm groups has blurred party groupings and Independents$ ,his as a trend that the .S)/M

in3uiry -014 attempted to restrain" arguing that


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Michelle Dang

SID: 450160165

In the passing o# a bill" it is more o#ten than not contested by the ma*or opposition

party ho ill +ote against it" in this circumstance legislati+e scrutiny be#alls Independents

and minor parties B hom seldom ha+e an interest in challenging the o+ernment to call a

double dissolution election1 through the re*ection o# bills because they ha+e no chance in

#orming the o+ernment themsel+es and are unlikely to risk their seats$ &i! Coung rites" ?In

such a case" it may be more sensible #or minor parties to bargain #or changes rather than to

directly challenge the o+ernment by de#eating its legislation@ 1 E go+ernments in the

minority ill there#ore negotiate ith minor parties as ell as opposition parties" to pass

contro+ersial bills through parliament B a process not ithout negotiation and amendments$

,his is demonstrated in the 1 Senate debate o+er the goods and ser+ices ta2 S, in

hich the leader o# the %ustralian Democrats Meg &ees challenged #or e2emptions to the

S, such as #ood" books" and tourism packages and #or other compensating ta2 measures to

be implemented$ ,he creati+e policy negotiation lead to % (e ,a2 System oods and

Ser+ices ,a2 %ct 1 passing on -F .une 1$ 9ence this consensus style o# policy

making allos #or a democratic consideration o# a greater spectrum o# ideas and moderates

the polarisation o# go+ernment and the opposition unlike the loer house$

%s earlier stated" the likelihood o# a minority go+ernment are slim hoe+er that is not

to say go+ernment policies cannot be practically sayed by care#ul negotiation in #a+our o#

party disciplines$ ,he adoption o# P> allos #or this representation o# otherise #ringe

politics" hich in its sel#" pro+okes both negati+e and positi+e +ies$ Ghate+er the intention

o# the go+ernment in the adoption o# P> and the representation o# minor parties" hether

intended or not" has ensured signi#icant strengthening o# parliamentary democracy #ul#illing

1 Hnder s - o# the )onstitution$


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Michelle Dang

SID: 450160165

the e2pectations o# %ttorneyEeneral 9$$ /+att 14F" ho argued that Jthe #airest system

and the one most likely to enhance the status o# the Senate is that o# P>$8

% +ery appealing aspect o# Independents and minor parties during election periods is

attributed to public disen#ranchisement ith the ma*or political parties" especially in rural and

regional seats$ 7#ten times" Independents pitch their campaign to their electorates" presenting

themsel+es to the public that separates them #rom go+ernment and parliamentarians that goes

beyond the di##erences in their political ambitions to a genuine attempt to oblige +oter needs$

,ypically" minor parties tend to hold the interests o# their supporters closely beside their party

ideology and #rom this emerges narro and single interest parties like the ecommendation 4 o# the -014 .S)/M" the committee e2pounds the need #or the re+ision o# ss

1-6" 1A-" 1A4 o# Pt in the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 #or stronger re3uirements #or

party registration$ In particular the >ecommendation includes:

An increase in party membership [requires] a minimum of 1500 members…

who are not relie upon other party in orer for a feerally re!istere party

to fiel caniates nationally

.oint Standing )ommission on /lectoral Matters .S)/M" May -014

In e##ect the process ill initially stunt the #ormation o# minor parties ith the high minimum

party membership as ell as discourage minor parties and Independents uniting on common

ground to #unnel +otes$ ,he )ommittee also #urther recommended that the o+ernment

supply ade3uate resources to the %ustralian /lectoral )ommittee to o+ersee the subEagenda

recommendations includingK a membership +eri#ication process" and membership audits each

electoral cycle$ 7b*ecti+ely +ieing the >ecommendation elucidates the intention to maim

the a+enues in hich minor parties and Independents seek political in#luence$ Gith the


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Michelle Dang

SID: 450160165

reduction o# di+erse participation o# party ideologies that re#lect the public interest o#

supporters" #ragmented political liberty and a #ailure o# representati+e democracy ensues$

Support #or minor parties and Independents reached record le+els #or both the 9ouse

and >epresentati+es and the Senate at the -01A election$ Gith support #or nonEma*or party

candidates reaching -1$1L in the 9ouse o# >epresentati+es and A-$-L in the Senate$ ,his

political demographic stems #rom the decline #rom traditional parties attracting many more

candidates to contest in ederal elections$ %lthough these numbers look promising in

impro+ing the 3uality o# representati+e democracy by opening mainstream politics #or

alternati+e +oices to be heard" the groing candidate rate has complicated the Senate ballot

papers$ ,he increased candidature o# Independents and minor parties as described in the

.S)/M en3uiry" raises complications i# one ere to +ote abo+e the line" the choice o# here

their +ote ould go ould be e##ecti+ely ambiguous and +oting belo the line pro+ed to be a

comple2 and time consuming +enture$ In this ay" representati+e democracy is distorted" the

.S)/M en3uiry coined the term ecommendation one o# the May .S)/M in3uiry"

e2pounds the suggestion o# the council calling upon the go+ernment to amend s -A o# the

Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 to allo #or: optional pre#erential abo+e the line +oting"

and


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Michelle Dang

SID: 450160165

political +ies that appeal to the ma*ority are ecommendations" the multitude o# minor parties and

their respecti+e political disciples ithin contemporary society is a testimony to the

strengthening o# democracy through the interplay o# di+erse o# agendas ithin the legislati+e

process$

Ghilst there are some transparent obstacles be#alling minor parties and Independents

in ascertaining a position to contribute to public policy" Jtheir numbers in the Senate to

check the poer o# the o+ernment in ays that undoubtedly ha+e been in the public

interest= /ditorial" Australian "inancial #e$iew" F March 14 ha+e ser+ed to e+ol+e the

chamber into a +ibrant part o# %ustralia8s system o# representati+e go+ernment$ %s ell as

this" statistics do not #ail to sho a groing propensity o# %ustralians to +ote aay #rom the

ma*or parties and re+ealing the apparent threat to ma*or party hegemony accredited to their

decline in public con#idence to ade3uately represent issues o# importance held by the

supporter$ Ghilst the P> system has pro+ided a+enues to pursue parliamentary in#luence"

criticism toards the techni3ues employed by minor parties and Independent candidates to

ma2imise inning o# seats has imposed barriers that hinder their chances o# representation$

%lthough the results o# the recommendations pro+ided by the .)S/M ha+e yet to be

comprehensi+ely published" it ill no doubt ad+ersely a##ect the numbers o# minor and

independents seats and hence the comple2ion o# %ustralia=s representati+e democracy$


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Michelle Dang

SID: 450160165

%lberchtsen" . -01-" .uly 4$ ,he Proportional Pathay to Policy Paralysis$ %he Australian"

p$ AF

C&' Commonwealth &arliamentary 'ebates" 16 %pril 14F" p$ 65 3uoted in /lecting

%ustralia8s Senator s" (enate )rief (o$ 1" March 1F$

Department o# Parliamentary Ser+ices -010" A!e of *nepenence+ *nepenents in

Australian &arliaments, )anberra" %ustralasian Parliamentary >e+ie Autumn -010"=

Nhttp:''parlin#o$aph$go+$au'parlIn#o'donload'library'prspub'--F-0-'uploadObinary'--F-0-$

pd#K#ile,ypeapplicationL-pd#QsearchL--independentL-0partyL-0australian

L-0democracyL-- R" accessed: --nd March" -015$

reen" %$ -01A" (o+ember 1$ >ecord ote #or Minor Parties at -01A ederal /lection

Geb log post$ >etrie+ed #rom http:''blogs$abc$net$au'antonygreen'-01A'11'recordE+oteE#orE

minorEpartiesEatE-01AE#ederalEelection$html

.or/anicyn ,&rater ' -006 Australian &olicy 2nline+ *nepenents in Australian

&olitics" Nhttp:''apo$org$au'commentary'independentsEaustralianEpoliticsR" accessed: --nd

March" -015" page updated eb -015$

.aensch$ D" 1F$ *mportance, rele$ance, classification, A &la!ue on both your houses+

minor parties in Australia, %llen Hnin$

.oint Standing )ommission on /lectoral Matters$ -014 *nterim report on the inquiry into

the conuct of the -013 "eeral Election+ (enate $otin! practices )anberra" %ustralia:

.S)/M$

Parliament o# %ustralia$ -00F$ %he (enate, Accountability an .o$ernment Control+

&arliamentary &aper no 48 >etrie+ed #rom: http:''$aph$go+$au'senate'T'T'link$asp2U

Oid1/44DD5D4-14V)6)116--00DFA/O!!R

Sharman$ ) -010 epresentation o# Small Parties and Independents in the Senate"=

Australian 6ournal of &olitical (cience" A4A" pp$ A5AE A61$

http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/download/library/prspub/228202/upload_binary/228202.pdf;fileType=application%2Fpdf#search=%22independent%20party%20australian%20democracy%22http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/download/library/prspub/228202/upload_binary/228202.pdf;fileType=application%2Fpdf#search=%22independent%20party%20australian%20democracy%22http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/download/library/prspub/228202/upload_binary/228202.pdf;fileType=application%2Fpdf#search=%22independent%20party%20australian%20democracy%22http://blogs.abc.net.au/antonygreen/2013/11/record-vote-for-minor-parties-at-2013-federal-election.htmlhttp://blogs.abc.net.au/antonygreen/2013/11/record-vote-for-minor-parties-at-2013-federal-election.htmlhttp://apo.org.au/commentary/independents-australian-politicshttp://www.aph.gov.au/senate/~/~/link.aspx?_id=17EF4947DD5D4214BC6C1162200D893E&_z=zhttp://www.aph.gov.au/senate/~/~/link.aspx?_id=17EF4947DD5D4214BC6C1162200D893E&_z=zhttp://blogs.abc.net.au/antonygreen/2013/11/record-vote-for-minor-parties-at-2013-federal-election.htmlhttp://blogs.abc.net.au/antonygreen/2013/11/record-vote-for-minor-parties-at-2013-federal-election.htmlhttp://apo.org.au/commentary/independents-australian-politicshttp://www.aph.gov.au/senate/~/~/link.aspx?_id=17EF4947DD5D4214BC6C1162200D893E&_z=zhttp://www.aph.gov.au/senate/~/~/link.aspx?_id=17EF4947DD5D4214BC6C1162200D893E&_z=zhttp://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/download/library/prspub/228202/upload_binary/228202.pdf;fileType=application%2Fpdf#search=%22independent%20party%20australian%20democracy%22http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/download/library/prspub/228202/upload_binary/228202.pdf;fileType=application%2Fpdf#search=%22independent%20party%20australian%20democracy%22http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/download/library/prspub/228202/upload_binary/228202.pdf;fileType=application%2Fpdf#search=%22independent%20party%20australian%20democracy%22


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Michelle Dang

SID: 450160165

Stock" .$ ,$ -010" %he .reens, 'emocrats, minor parties an *nepenents, in Parkin" %$"

Summers" .$ and Goodard" D$ ed$ .o$ernment, politics, power an policy in

Australia, renchs orest: Pearson &ongman" -010 th /dition" )h$ $

Coung" &$ Ma*or Parties and the &egislati+e Process in the %ustralian Senate: % Study o# the

1A Vudget , Australian 6ournal of &olitical (cience" +$A4" no$ 1" 1" p$1$

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Independent and Minority parties in Australian Politics