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Australian Democrats
Leader Lyn Allison
Founded 1977
Office 711 South Road
Black Forest, SA 5035
Political Ideology Social liberalism
Website www.democrats.org.au

The Australian Democrats is an Australian political party espousing a centrist or social liberal ideology. Lynette Fay "Lyn" Allison (born 21 October 1946) is an Australian politician Social liberalism, also called new liberalism (as it was originally termed high liberalism radical liberalism, modern liberalism, or For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. A political party is a Political organization that seeks to attain and maintain political power within Government, usually by participating in electoral In Politics, centrism usually refers to the political ideal of promoting Moderate policies which land in the middle ground between different political extremes Social liberalism, also called new liberalism (as it was originally termed high liberalism radical liberalism, modern liberalism, or It was formed in 1977, by a merger of the Australia Party and the New Liberal Movement, after principals of those minor parties secured the commitment of former Minister Don Chipp, as a high profile leader. Also 1977 (album by Ash. Year 1977 ( MCMLXXVII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays The Australia Party was the name of a minor Political party in Australia (not to be confused with the Australian Party, which was set up by Billy Hughes The New Liberal Movement (New LM was a South Australian political party that flourished during the mid-1970s A minister or a secretary is a Politician who holds significant public office in a national or regional Government. Donald Leslie Chipp, AO (21 August 1925 &ndash 28 August 2006 was an Australian politician and the inaugural leader of the Australian Democrats. [1] The party's representation in the Parliament of Australia will end on 30 June 2008, after the loss of its four remaining Senate seats at the 2007 election. The Parliament of Australia or Commonwealth Parliament is the legislative branch of government of Australia. Events 350 - Roman usurper Nepotianus, of the Constantinian dynasty, is defeated and killed by troops of the Usurper 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common The Senate is the upper of the two houses of the Parliament of Australia. Federal elections for the Parliament of Australia were held on Saturday 24 November 2007 after a 6-week campaign in which 13 [2] A single state representative remains, in the South Australian Legislative Council. The Commonwealth of Australia is made up of 8 states and territories controlled under a federal system of government The Legislative Council, or upper house is one of the two chambers of the Parliament of South Australia.

The party was based on the principles of honesty, tolerance, compassion and direct democracy through postal ballots of all members, so that "there should be no hierarchical structure . Direct Democracy is a movement within the British Conservative Party dedicated to localism and Constitutional reform as a means of reviving public . . by which a carefully engineered elite could make decisions for the members. "[3] From the outset, members' participation was fiercely protected in national and divisional constitutions prescribing internal elections, regular meeting protocols, annual conferences—and monthly journals for open discussion and balloting. Dispute resolution procedures were established, with final recourse to a party ombudsman and membership ballot. An ombudsman ( English plural conventionally ombudsmen) is an official usually (but not always appointed by the government or by parliament who is charged with

Policies determined by the unique participatory method promoted environmental awareness and sustainability, opposition to the primacy of economic rationalism, preventive approaches to human health and welfare, animal rights, rejection of nuclear technology and weapons. Economic rationalism is an Australian term in discussion of Microeconomic policy applicable to the economic policy of many governments around the world in particular during

The Democrats were the first representatives of green politics at the federal level in Australia. Green politics is a Political ideology which places a high importance on ecological and environmental goals and on achieving these goals through broad-based They played a key role in the cause célèbre of the Franklin River Dam. The Franklin Dam or Gordon-below-Franklin Dam project was a proposed dam on the Gordon River in Tasmania, Australia that was never

The party's centrist role made it subject to criticism from both the right and left of the political spectrum. In particular, Chipp's former conservative affiliation was frequently recalled by opponents on the left. The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party. [4] This problem was to torment later leaders and strategists who, by 1991, were proclaiming "the electoral objective" as a higher priority than the rigorous participatory democracy espoused by the party's founders. [5]

Over two decades, the Democrats achieved representation in the legislatures of the ACT, South Australia, New South Wales, Western Australia and Tasmania as well as Senate seats in all six states. } The Australian Capital Territory (ACT is the Capital territory of the Commonwealth of Australia and its smallest self-governing internal territory South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country Western Australia is a state occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. Tasmania is an Australian island and state of the same name It is located south of the eastern side of the Continent, being separated from it by Bass The Senate is the upper of the two houses of the Parliament of Australia. However, at the 2004 and 2007 elections, all seven of its Senate seats were lost. Federal elections were held in Australia on 9 October, 2004. All 150 seats in the House of Representatives and 40 seats in the 76-member [6] Support at the state level had also dwindled.

Contents

History

1977-79

Don Chipp, Democrats leader 1977-1986
Don Chipp, Democrats leader 1977-1986

On the evening of Friday, 29 April, 1977, Don Chipp addressed an overflowing Perth Town Hall meeting which unanimously passed a resolution to form a Centre Line Party, which Chipp was invited to lead[7]—but he firmly declined to reverse his avowed decision to quit politics, having resigned from the Liberal Party and been offered a lucrative position as a radio public affairs commentator. Donald Leslie Chipp, AO (21 August 1925 &ndash 28 August 2006 was an Australian politician and the inaugural leader of the Australian Democrats. However, at a meeting in the Melbourne Town Hall on 9 May, Chipp received a standing ovation from over 3000 people, including former prime minister John Gorton, and decided to commit himself to leading the new party which was already being constructed by a national steering committee. Sir John Grey Gorton, GCMG, AC, CH (9 September 191119 May 2002 Australian politician was the 19th Prime Minister of Australia. [8] The name "Australian Democrats", already in informal currency[9], was confirmed by the membership, being the most favoured of 56 alternative names on the postal ballot paper. [10]

The first Australian Democrats (AD) federal parliamentarian was Senator Janine Haines who filled Steele Hall's casual Senate vacancy for South Australia in 1977. Janine Haines, AM ( 8 May 1945 – 20 November 2004) Australian Politician, was the first female federal parliamentary Raymond Steele Hall (born 28 November 1928) was from 1968 to 1970 the 36th Premier of South Australia, senator for South Australia from 1974 Surprisingly, she was not a candidate when the party contested the 1977 federal elections after Don Chipp had agreed to be leader and figurehead. Background and Issues The election is remembered for the "fistful of dollars" advertisements run by the government offering tax cuts to voters Members and candidates were not lacking in electoral experience since the Australia Party had been contesting all federal elections since 1969 and the Liberal Movement, in 1974 and 1975. Issues The 1969 election centred heavily on the two leaders John Gorton and Gough Whitlam Federal elections were held in Australia on 18 May 1974. All 127 seats in the House of Representatives, and all 60 seats in the Senate Federal elections were held in Australia on 13 December 1975 All 127 seats in the House of Representatives, and all 64 seats in the Senate were up for The party's broad aim was to achieve a balance of power in one or more parliaments and to exercise it responsibly in line with policies determined by membership. In Parliamentary politics the term balance of power sometimes describes the pragmatic mechanism exercised by a minor Political party or other grouping whose guaranteed

The grassroot support attracted by Chipp's leadership was measurable at the party's first electoral test on 10 December, 1977, when 9. Background and Issues The election is remembered for the "fistful of dollars" advertisements run by the government offering tax cuts to voters 38% of the total Lower House vote was polled and 11. 13% of the Senate vote. At that time, with five Senate seats being contested in each state, the required quota was a daunting 16. The Droop Quota is the Quota most commonly used in elections held under the Single Transferable Vote (STV system 66%. However, the first 6-year-term seats were won by Don Chipp (Vic) and Colin Mason (NSW). Colin Victor James Mason (born 28 October 1926) is a New Zealand -born Australian journalist author and former politician

1980-82

At a Melbourne media conference in 1980, Chipp described his party's aim as "to keep the bastards honest" --the "bastards" being the major parties and/or politicians in general. This became a long-lived slogan for the Democrats.

The Australian Democrats' first national conference, on 16-17 February, 1980, was opened by the distinguished nuclear physicist and former governor of South Australia, Sir Mark Oliphant, who said:

I was privileged to be in the chair at the public meeting in Melbourne when [Don Chipp] announced formation of a new party, dedicated to preserve what freedoms we still retain, and to increase them. Sir Marcus 'Mark' Laurence Elwin Oliphant AC, KBE ( October 8 1901 &ndash July 14, 2000) was an Australian A party in which dictatorship from the top was replaced by consensus. A party not ordered about by big business and the rich, or by union bosses. A party where a man could retain freedom of conscience and not thereby be faced with expulsion. A party to which the intelligent individual could belong without having to subscribe to a dogmatic creed. In other words, a democratic party. [11]

At the October 1980 election, the Democrats polled 9. Issues The mood in the electorate was moving against the Fraser Government by 1980 25% of the Senate vote, electing Janine Haines (SA) and two new senators Michael Macklin (Qld) and John Siddons (Vic), bringing the party's strength to five Senate seats from 1 July, 1981 . Janine Haines, AM ( 8 May 1945 – 20 November 2004) Australian Politician, was the first female federal parliamentary Dr Michael Macklin (born 25 February 1943) is an Australian educator and Fundraiser who was an Australian Democrats senator for

1990-91

Janine Haines, Democrats leader 1986-1990, first female leader of a parliamentary party in Australia.
Janine Haines, Democrats leader 1986-1990, first female leader of a parliamentary party in Australia. Janine Haines, AM ( 8 May 1945 – 20 November 2004) Australian Politician, was the first female federal parliamentary
See 'Give a Damn: Vote Democrat 1' campaign commercial

1990 saw the voluntary departure from the Senate of Janine Haines and the failure of her strategic goal of winning the House of Representatives seat of Kingston. Janine Haines, AM ( 8 May 1945 – 20 November 2004) Australian Politician, was the first female federal parliamentary The Division of Kingston is an Australian Electoral Division in South Australia covering the far-south metropolitan area of Adelaide. Her casual vacancy was filled by Meg Lees several months before the arrival of Cheryl Kernot, elected to replace the retiring deputy leader Michael Macklin. Meg Heather Lees (born 19 October 1948) was a member of the Australian Senate from 1990 to 2005 representing the Cheryl Kernot (born 5 December 1948) is a former Australian politician Dr Michael Macklin (born 25 February 1943) is an Australian educator and Fundraiser who was an Australian Democrats senator for The ambitious Kernot immediately contested the Senate leadership. Being unemployed at the time, she requested and obtained party funds to pay for her travel to address members in all seven divisions. [12] In the event, Janet Powell was successful and John Coulter was chosen as deputy leader. Janet Frances Powell (born September 29, 1942) in Nhill Victoria, is an Australian politician Dr John Richard Coulter (born 3 December 1930) is an Australian medical researcher and former politician

Despite the loss of Haines and the WA Senate seat (through an inconsistent national preference agreement with the ALP), the 1990 federal election heralded something of a rebirth for the party, with a dramatic rise in primary vote. This was at the same time as an economic recession was building, and events such as the Gulf War in Kuwait were beginning to shepherd issues of globalisation and transnational trade on to national government agendas. A recession is a contraction phase of the Business cycle. The U

Election Results
 Senate - National

  • 1977: 11. 1%
  • 1980: 09. 3%
  • 1983: 09. 6%
  • 1984: 07. 6%
  • 1987: 08. 5%
  • 1990: 12. 6%
  • 1993: 05. 3%
  • 1996: 10. 8%
  • 1998: 08. 4%
  • 2001: 07. 3%
  • 2004: 02. 1%
  • 2007: 01. 3%

Janet Powell attacked both the government and opposition which had closed ranks in support of the Gulf War. Whereas the House of Representatives was thus able to avoid any debate about the war and Australia's participation,[13][14] the Democrats took full advantage of the opportunity to move for a debate in the Senate. [15]

Possibly because of the party's opposition to the Gulf War, there was mass-media antipathy and negative publicity which some construed as poor performance by Janet Powell. Before 12 months of her leadership had passed, the South Australian and Queensland divisions were circulating the party's first-ever petition to criticise and oust the parliamentary leader. The explicit grounds related to Powell's alleged responsibility for poor AD ratings in Gallup and other media surveys of potential voting support. When this charge was deemed insufficient, interested party officers and senators reinforced it with negative media 'leaks' concerning her openly established relationship with Sid Spindler and exposure of administrative failings resulting in excessive overtime to a staff member. A news leak is a disclosure of embargoed information in advance of its official release or the unsanctioned release of confidential information Siegfried Emil "Sid" Spindler ( 9 July 1932 – 1 March 2008) was an Australian politician representing the Australian With national-executive blessing, the party room pre-empted the ballot by replacing the leader with deputy John Coulter. Dr John Richard Coulter (born 3 December 1930) is an Australian medical researcher and former politician In the process, severe internal divisions were generated. One major collateral casualty was the party whip Paul McLean who resigned and quit the Senate in disgust at what he perceived as infighting between close friends. Paul McLean is an Australian advocate of banking reform and former Australian Democrats senator for New South Wales (1987-1991 The casual NSW vacancy created by his resignation was filled by Karin Sowada. Karin Nicole Sowada (born November 1, 1961) is an Australian archaeologist and former politician

Policy

The party's original support base consisted of voters alienated by perceived unproductive adversarial conflict between the two mainstream parties and an emerging new constituency of people with a desire to participate more effectively in government and to promote concerns for environmental protection and social justice. The party aimed to combine liberal social policies with centrist, particularly neo-Keynesian economics and a progressive environmental platform. In Economics Keynesian economics (ˈkeɪnziən also Keynesianism and Keynesian Theory) is based on the ideas of twentieth-century British economist

The original agenda included interventionist economic policies, commitment to environmental causes, support for reconciliation with Australia's indigenous population through such mechanisms as formal treaties, pacifist approaches to international relations, open government, constitutional reform, progressive approaches to social issues such as sexuality and drugs, and strong support for human rights and civil liberties. Economic interventionism, is a common term used to describe any activity beyond the basic regulation of fraud and enforcement of contracts undertaken by a government in an effort to affect Environmentalism is a broad philosophy and Social movement centered on a concern for the conservation and improvement of the environment. Indigenous Australians are descendants of the first known human inhabitants of the Australian continent and its nearby islands. Human rights refers to the "basic Rights and freedoms to which all humans are entitled Its membership largely comprised tertiary-educated and middle-class constituents. Tertiary education, also referred to as third stage third level and' post-secondary education', is the educational level following the completion of a school providing The middle class, in colloquial usage consists of those who have some economic independence but not a great deal of social Influence or power. The party also appealed to voters opposed to untrammelled government power and wishing to have alternative views aired in parliaments and media.

The party has a platform of participatory democracy, with policies supporting proportional representation and citizen-initiated referenda. Proportional representation (sometimes referred to as full representation or PR is a category of electoral formula aiming at a close match between the percentage of votes A referendum (plural referendums or referenda) ballot question, or plebiscite (from Latin plebiscita Many important internal issues (such as electoral preselection and leadership) are decided by direct postal ballot of the membership. Although policies are theoretically set in a similar fashion, Democrat parliamentarians generally had extensive freedom in interpreting them. Since the early 1990s, the ballot mechanism had been susceptible to fluctuations in information flow and to charges of manipulation or obstruction by the party officers charged with authenticating and actioning member-initiated petitions.

However, by 1980, the Democrats had employed the postal-ballot method at both national at state levels to develop an extensive body of written policy covering not only the political agendas of the day but also innovative and far-sighted policies for environmental and economic sustainability, water and energy conservation, e. g. , through development of alternative energy sources, expanded public transport, etc. To the community's growing concerns about human rights, the Democrats added finely detailed policies on animal welfare and species preservation. The material is available in election manifestos and copies of the party's journals, obtainable in major public libraries.

Electoral fortunes

The Democrats' electoral fortunes have fluctuated throughout their history.

During the Hawke and Keating Labor Governments (1983-96), the Democrats held a theoretical balance of power in the Senate: the numbers were such that they could team with Labor to pass legislation, or team with the Coalition to block legislation on rare occasions when the Coalition decided to oppose a government bill. Robert James Lee (Bob Hawke, AC (born 9 December 1929 was the 23rd Prime Minister of Australia and longest serving Australian Labor Party Prime Minister Paul John Keating (born 18 January 1944 was the 24th Prime Minister of Australia, from 1991 to 1996

Their power was somewhat weakened in 1996 after the Howard government was elected, and a Labor Senator, Mal Colston, resigned from the Labor party. See also Howard Government John Winston Howard AC (born 26 July 1939 was the 25th Prime Minister of Australia from 11 March Dr Malcolm Arthur Colston (5 April 1938 &ndash 23 August 2003 Australian Politician, was a Senator in the Parliament of Australia representing This meant that the Democrats now shared the parliamentary balance of power with two Independent senators, and so the Coalition government could often bypass the Democrats, and pass legislation by negotiating with Colston and Brian Harradine. Brian Harradine (born 9 January 1935) Australian Politician, was an independent member of the Australian Senate from 1975 to 2005 After the 1998 election the Democrats again held the balance of power, until the Coalition gained a Senate majority at the 2004 election. Results House of Representatives preference flows The Nationals had candidates in 13 seats where Three-cornered-contests existed Federal elections were held in Australia on 9 October, 2004. All 150 seats in the House of Representatives and 40 seats in the 76-member

The Hawke and Keating governments pursued economic rationalist neoliberal policies, and the Democrats positioned themselves to the left of the ALP government and thus at the left end of mainstream Australian politics. Economic rationalism is an Australian term in discussion of Microeconomic policy applicable to the economic policy of many governments around the world in particular during Originally coined by its critics and opponents " neoliberalism " is a label referring to the recent reemergence of Economic liberalism or Classical liberalism However, the party's progressive-liberal politics remained attractive to middle class Liberal supporters ("wet" Liberals) who were disaffected by the Liberal party's social conservatism. The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.

Cheryl Kernot became leader in 1993. She had strong media appeal, which increased media and public awareness of herself and the party. She was known to have interests in industrial relations and was able to cultivate solid relationships with Labor government frontbenchers, which also added to her credibility in the press gallery.

When the Howard government was first elected in 1996, the Democrats re-evaluated parliamentary tactics on the basis that there was now less of an opposition vacuum to be filled, and friendships made with Labor would now be less fruitful. See also Howard Government John Winston Howard AC (born 26 July 1939 was the 25th Prime Minister of Australia from 11 March Consideration was required as to whether the Democrats would operate on an economically centrist agenda (while still being socially liberal and environmentalist) and ready in most cases to negotiate with the government of the day; or would continue to occupy a position to the left of both major parties on economic as well as social policy, while maintaining the crossbench tradition of negotiating with both government and opposition.

Lack of clear direction other than, possibly, senators' common ambition to play a more productive role in government manifested itself in tensions over Cheryl Kernot's policy on industrial relations (see the Workplace Relations Act 1996). The field of industrial relations (also called labor relations) looks at the relationship between Management and workers particularly groups of workers represented The Workplace Relations Act 1996 is an Australian law passed by the Howard Government shortly after coming into power in 1996. Under Kernot, after negotiations and some compromises from the government, the Democrats voted for the Howard Government's right-leaning industrial relations legislation which decreased union power and allowed a larger role for individual employer-employee contracts.

Kernot, however, remained both ambitious and broadly opposed to the Liberal government. This, together with her personal ambition for a role in government, led her to defect to the ALP in 1997. Initially both Labor and the Democrats benefited from Kernot's move, with polls showing that the Democrats had attracted a significant "sympathy vote". In the 1998 federal election, the Democrats' candidate John Schumann came within 3% of taking Liberal Foreign Minister Alexander Downer's seat of Mayo in the Adelaide Hills under Australia's preferential voting system. Results House of Representatives preference flows The Nationals had candidates in 13 seats where Three-cornered-contests existed John Lewis Schumann (born c 1953 is an Australian singer songwriter and guitarist from Adelaide. Alexander John Gosse Downer (born 9 September 1951 is an Australian Liberal politician who was Foreign Minister of Australia from March 1996 to December The Division of Mayo is an Australian Electoral Division located in the hills east of Adelaide, South Australia and currently includes the towns of This article is about voting systems that use ranked ballots For alternative meanings see Preferential voting (disambiguation.

Internal conflict over the government's proposed Goods and Services Tax (GST), during the 1998 federal election and in Parliament in 1999 was extremely damaging to the Democrats. The GST (Goods and Services Tax is a Value added tax of 10% on most goods and services transactions in Australia. Meg Lees campaigned on a modified GST platform, opposing the GST on food and books. After negotiations with Prime Minister Howard, Meg Lees and Andrew Murray (both part of the centrist element within the Democrats) agreed to support the GST legislation with exemptions for most food and some medicines. See also Howard Government John Winston Howard AC (born 26 July 1939 was the 25th Prime Minister of Australia from 11 March Many left-wing Democrat voters and a large number of party members regarded this as a betrayal, and two senators on the party's left, Natasha Stott Despoja and Andrew Bartlett, voted against the GST. Natasha Jessica Stott Despoja (born 9 September 1969) is an Australian former politician and former leader of the Australian Democrats. Andrew John Julian Bartlett (born 4 August 1964 Australian politician Despite this, the Democrats' election results in 1998 and 2001 were both good.

Natasha Stott Despoja 2007
Natasha Stott Despoja 2007

In 2001, Lees was replaced as leader in a coup by the left-leaning senator, Natasha Stott Despoja. Natasha Jessica Stott Despoja (born 9 September 1969) is an Australian former politician and former leader of the Australian Democrats. Despite criticism about her age and lack of experience Stott Despoja worked hard to bring disaffected former Democrat voters back in the 2001 federal election, although she was not able to bring back enough voters to prevent the loss of a seat to Greens Senator Kerry Nettle, indicating the loss of Democrat votes on the left. Kerry Michelle Nettle (born 24 December 1973) is a former Australian Senator and member of the Australian Greens in New South (The task was not made any easier by the Tampa affair. The MV Tampa is a Norwegian Cargo ship. In August 2001 under Captain Arne Rinnan, a diplomatic dispute brewed between Australia ) Ongoing tensions between Stott Despoja and Lees, who quit the party in 2002, but was supported by a majority of the Senator, led to Stott Despoja standing down from the leadership. [16] It led to a protracted leadership battle in 2002, which eventually led to the election of Senator Andrew Bartlett as leader. However, the tension led to Meg Lees leaving the party, becoming an independent and forming the Australian Progressive Alliance. Meg Heather Lees (born 19 October 1948) was a member of the Australian Senate from 1990 to 2005 representing the The Australian Progressive Alliance (APA was a minor liberal party in Australia. It was very short-lived.

On 6 December 2003, Andrew Bartlett stepped aside temporarily as leader of the party, after an incident in which he assaulted Liberal Senator Jeannie Ferris on the floor of Parliament while intoxicated. Events 1060 - Béla I of Hungary is crowned king of Hungary 1240 - Mongol invasion of Rus: Kiev Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party. Jeannie Ferris ( 14 March 1941 &ndash 2 April 2007) was an Australian politician lobbyist journalist and Liberal The Parliament of Australia or Commonwealth Parliament is the legislative branch of government of Australia. [17] The party issued a statement stating that Deputy Leader Lyn Allison would serve as the Acting Leader of the party. Lynette Fay "Lyn" Allison (born 21 October 1946) is an Australian politician Bartlett apologised to the Democrats, Jeannie Ferris and the Australian public for his behaviour and assured all concerned that it would never happen again. On January 29, 2004, after seeking medical treatment, Bartlett returned to the Democrats leadership, vowing to abstain from alcohol. Events 904 - Sergius III comes out of retirement to take over the papacy from the deposed Antipope Christopher. "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again "

2004

Lyn Allison 2007
Lyn Allison 2007

Support for the Democrats fell significantly at the 2004 Federal election in which they achieved only 1. Federal elections were held in Australia on 9 October, 2004. All 150 seats in the House of Representatives and 40 seats in the 76-member 24% of the national vote. Nowhere was this more noticeable than in their key support base of suburban Adelaide in South Australia, where they received between 7 and 31% of the Lower House vote in 2001, and between 1% and 4% in 2004. Adelaide is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of South Australia, and is the fifth largest city in Australia with a Three incumbent senators were defeated—Aden Ridgeway (NSW), Brian Greig (WA) and John Cherry (Qld). Aden Derek Ridgeway (born 18 September 1962 Australian politician was a member of the Australian Senate for New South Wales, from 1999 to 2005 representing Brian Andrew Greig (born 22 February 1966) Australian politician was an Australian Democrats member of the Australian Senate from For the article on the Lieutenant Governor of Michigan see John D Following the loss, the customary post-election leadership ballot installed Lyn Allison as leader and Andrew Bartlett as her deputy.

From 1 July 2005 the Democrats lost official parliamentary party status, being represented by only four senators while the governing Liberal-National Coalition gained a majority and potential control of the Senate—the first time this advantage had been enjoyed by any government since 1980. "July 1st" redirects here For the Ayumi Hamasaki song see H (song. Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar.

2006

On 5 January 2006, the ABC reported that the Tasmanian Electoral Commission had de-registered that branch of the party for failing to provide a list containing the required number of members. Events 1477 - Battle of Nancy: Charles the Bold is killed and Burgundy becomes part of France. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. [18]

On 18 March 2006, at the 2006 South Australian state election, the Democrats were reduced to 1. Events 37 - The Roman Senate annuls Tiberius ' will and proclaims Caligula emperor Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Party backgrounds Australian Labor Party The Australian Labor Party is Australia's oldest political party founded in 1891 7% of the Legislative Council (upper house) vote. Their sole councillor up for re-election, Kate Reynolds, was defeated. Kathryn Joy "Kate" Reynolds is an Australian politician

After the election, South Australian senator Natasha Stott Despoja was obliged to deny rumours that she was considering quitting the party. Natasha Jessica Stott Despoja (born 9 September 1969) is an Australian former politician and former leader of the Australian Democrats. [19]

In early July, Richard Pascoe, national and South Australian party president, resigned, citing slumping opinion polls and the poor result in the 2006 South Australian election as well as South Australian parliamentary leader Sandra Kanck's comments regarding the drug MDMA which he saw as damaging to the party. South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country Sandra Myrtho Kanck (b 1950 is an Australian politician an Australian Democrats member of the South Australian Legislative Council and her party's sole MDMA ( 34-methylenedioxy- N -methylamphetamine) most commonly known today by the street name Ecstasy (often abbreviated E, X, [20] [21] [22]

On 5 July 2006, Democrats senator for Western Australia Andrew Murray announced his intention not to contest the 2007 federal election, citing frustration arising from the Howard Government's control of both houses and his unwillingness to serve another six-year term. Events 1295 - Scotland and France form an alliance the beginnings of the Auld Alliance, against England. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Andrew James Marshall Murray (born 29 January 1947 is an Australian politician Federal elections for the Parliament of Australia were held on Saturday 24 November 2007 after a 6-week campaign in which 13 [23]. His term is due to end on 30 June, 2008.

On 28 August, 2006, the founder of the Democrats, Don Chipp, died. Donald Leslie Chipp, AO (21 August 1925 &ndash 28 August 2006 was an Australian politician and the inaugural leader of the Australian Democrats. Former prime minister Bob Hawke said: ". . . there is a coincidental timing almost between the passing of Don Chipp and what I think is the death throes of the Democrats[24]. "

On 22 October 2006, Democrats Senator Natasha Stott Despoja announced her intention not to seek re-election at the 2007 federal election due to health concerns. Events 202 BC - Hannibal Barca, leader of the Carthaginians, is defeated by the Roman legions under Scipio Africanus Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Natasha Jessica Stott Despoja (born 9 September 1969) is an Australian former politician and former leader of the Australian Democrats. Federal elections for the Parliament of Australia were held on Saturday 24 November 2007 after a 6-week campaign in which 13 [25] She will continue until the end of her term on 30 June, 2008.

In November 2006, the Democrats fared very poorly in the Victorian state election, receiving a Legislative Council vote tally of only 0. 83%[26], less than half of the party's result in 2002 (1. 79%)[27].

2007

In the New South Wales state election of March 2007, the Democrats lost their last remaining NSW Upper House representative, Arthur Chesterfield-Evans. Arthur Chesterfield-Evans (born 16 June 1950 is an Australian medical practitioner and politician who served as a member of the Legislative Council of New The party fared poorly, gaining only 1. 8% of the Legislative Council vote. A higher vote was achieved in some of the Legislative Assembly seats selectively contested as compared to 2003. However, the statewide vote share fell because the party was unable to field as many candidates as in 2003.

In the Victorian state by-election in Albert Park District the Democrats stood candidate Paul Kavanagh, who polled a respectable 5. 75% of the primary vote, despite a large number of candidates, and all media attention focusing on the battle between Labor and Greens candidates.

On 13 September 2007, the ACT Democrats (Australian Capital Territory Division of the party) was deregistered by the ACT Electoral Commissioner, being unable to demonstrate a minimum membership of 100 electors. Events 509 BC - The Temple of Jupiter on Rome 's Capitoline Hill is dedicated on the ides of September Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Unless re-registration is achieved, the party will be ineligible to contest the ACT election in October 2008. The disqualification does not affect federal elections.

As was widely expected, the Democrats had no success at the 2007 federal election. Federal elections for the Parliament of Australia were held on Saturday 24 November 2007 after a 6-week campaign in which 13 Two incumbent senators, Lyn Allison (Victoria) and Andrew Bartlett (Queensland), were defeated, their seats both reverting to major parties. Their two remaining colleagues, Andrew Murray (W. A. ) and Natasha Stott Despoja (S. A. ), did not run for new terms. All four senators' terms expire on 30 June, 2008—leaving the Democrats with no federal representation for the first time since 1977. An ABC report noted that the party's vote tally of less than 2% signified impending political oblivion. [28] The only Democrat parliamentarian after June 2008 will be Sandra Kanck if she continues in the South Australian upper house. Sandra Myrtho Kanck (b 1950 is an Australian politician an Australian Democrats member of the South Australian Legislative Council and her party's sole

Support

Support for the Democrats historically tended to fluctuate between about 5 and 10 percent of the population and was geographically concentrated around the wealthy dense CBD and inner-suburban neighbourhoods of the capital cities (especially Adelaide). A central business district ( CBD) is the commercial and often geographic heart of a city There are eight capital cities in Australia, all of which function at a sub-national level Adelaide is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of South Australia, and is the fifth largest city in Australia with a Therefore, they never managed to win a House of Representatives seat (despite coming close on a number of occasions, particularly Haines in Mayo in 1990). The House of Representatives is one of the two houses (chambers of the Parliament of Australia; it is the Lower house, the Upper house being the Senate During the 1980s, 1990s and early 2000s they typically held one or two of the Federal Senate seats in each state, as well as a handful of representatives in state parliaments and local councils. The Senate is the upper of the two houses of the Parliament of Australia.

However, internal bickering, the rise of the Australian Greens and growing support for the Liberal Party of Australia in the early 2000s changed this, and the Democrats are now in heavy decline - receiving 1. The Australian Greens, commonly known as The Greens, is a Green Australian political party. The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party. 24% nationally, and less than 3% of the vote at all but a handful of booths, even in their Adelaide heartland. [29]

Leadership

The Democrats have been notable for willingness to elect female and indigenous parliamentary representation and leadership. Indigenous Australians are descendants of the first known human inhabitants of the Australian continent and its nearby islands. Of the party's ten leaders, six have been women. Aboriginal senator Aden Ridgeway was deputy leader under Natasha Stott Despoja. Aden Derek Ridgeway (born 18 September 1962 Australian politician was a member of the Australian Senate for New South Wales, from 1999 to 2005 representing

The Parliamentary leaders of the Australian Democrats have been:

Janine Haines and Chipp in 1977
Janine Haines and Chipp in 1977

Senators

Current senators

The following are serving out terms which expire on 30 June, 2008, none have been re-elected following the 2007 federal election:

Former Senators

Democrats Senate members, 1987-1990: seated Michael Macklin and Janine Haines, rear left to right Jean Jenkins, John Coulter, Norm Sanders, Paul McLean and Janet Powell.
Democrats Senate members, 1987-1990: seated Michael Macklin and Janine Haines, rear left to right Jean Jenkins, John Coulter, Norm Sanders, Paul McLean and Janet Powell. Janine Haines, AM ( 8 May 1945 – 20 November 2004) Australian Politician, was the first female federal parliamentary Donald Leslie Chipp, AO (21 August 1925 &ndash 28 August 2006 was an Australian politician and the inaugural leader of the Australian Democrats. Janine Haines, AM ( 8 May 1945 – 20 November 2004) Australian Politician, was the first female federal parliamentary Dr Michael Macklin (born 25 February 1943) is an Australian educator and Fundraiser who was an Australian Democrats senator for Janet Frances Powell (born September 29, 1942) in Nhill Victoria, is an Australian politician Dr John Richard Coulter (born 3 December 1930) is an Australian medical researcher and former politician Cheryl Kernot (born 5 December 1948) is a former Australian politician Meg Heather Lees (born 19 October 1948) was a member of the Australian Senate from 1990 to 2005 representing the Natasha Jessica Stott Despoja (born 9 September 1969) is an Australian former politician and former leader of the Australian Democrats. Brian Andrew Greig (born 22 February 1966) Australian politician was an Australian Democrats member of the Australian Senate from Andrew John Julian Bartlett (born 4 August 1964 Australian politician Lynette Fay "Lyn" Allison (born 21 October 1946) is an Australian politician Federal elections for the Parliament of Australia were held on Saturday 24 November 2007 after a 6-week campaign in which 13 Lynette Fay "Lyn" Allison (born 21 October 1946) is an Australian politician Andrew James Marshall Murray (born 29 January 1947 is an Australian politician Andrew John Julian Bartlett (born 4 August 1964 Australian politician Natasha Jessica Stott Despoja (born 9 September 1969) is an Australian former politician and former leader of the Australian Democrats. Dr Michael Macklin (born 25 February 1943) is an Australian educator and Fundraiser who was an Australian Democrats senator for Janine Haines, AM ( 8 May 1945 – 20 November 2004) Australian Politician, was the first female federal parliamentary Jean Alice Jenkins (born March 16 1938) is an Australian educator in languages and served as an Australian Democrats Senator for Western Dr John Richard Coulter (born 3 December 1930) is an Australian medical researcher and former politician Norman Karl Sanders (born 15 October 1932) is an Australian former politician representing the Australian Democrats in the Tasmanian Paul McLean is an Australian advocate of banking reform and former Australian Democrats senator for New South Wales (1987-1991 Janet Frances Powell (born September 29, 1942) in Nhill Victoria, is an Australian politician

State parliamentarians

Current members

South Australia

Former Members

Australian Capital Territory

New South Wales

Western Australia

South Australia

Tasmania

Notes

  1. Appointed Interim Leader from 23 August 2002 until 5 October 2002. Janine Haines, AM ( 8 May 1945 – 20 November 2004) Australian Politician, was the first female federal parliamentary Donald Leslie Chipp, AO (21 August 1925 &ndash 28 August 2006 was an Australian politician and the inaugural leader of the Australian Democrats. Colin Victor James Mason (born 28 October 1926) is a New Zealand -born Australian journalist author and former politician Dr Michael Macklin (born 25 February 1943) is an Australian educator and Fundraiser who was an Australian Democrats senator for David Bernard Vigor ( 26 June 1939 - 9 April 1998) was a member of the Australian Senate, representing the Australian Democrats Norman Karl Sanders (born 15 October 1932) is an Australian former politician representing the Australian Democrats in the Tasmanian Janet Frances Powell (born September 29, 1942) in Nhill Victoria, is an Australian politician Paul McLean is an Australian advocate of banking reform and former Australian Democrats senator for New South Wales (1987-1991 Jean Alice Jenkins (born March 16 1938) is an Australian educator in languages and served as an Australian Democrats Senator for Western Vicki Worrall Bourne (born October 22, 1954) is a former Australian Democrats Senator for New South Wales from 1990 to 2002 Siegfried Emil "Sid" Spindler ( 9 July 1932 – 1 March 2008) was an Australian politician representing the Australian Cheryl Kernot (born 5 December 1948) is a former Australian politician Dr John Richard Coulter (born 3 December 1930) is an Australian medical researcher and former politician Karin Nicole Sowada (born November 1, 1961) is an Australian archaeologist and former politician John Woodley (b Brisbane Queensland 9 February 1938 -) is a Christian Minister of religion and was a Senator representing Meg Heather Lees (born 19 October 1948) was a member of the Australian Senate from 1990 to 2005 representing the Aden Derek Ridgeway (born 18 September 1962 Australian politician was a member of the Australian Senate for New South Wales, from 1999 to 2005 representing Brian Andrew Greig (born 22 February 1966) Australian politician was an Australian Democrats member of the Australian Senate from For the article on the Lieutenant Governor of Michigan see John D Sandra Myrtho Kanck (b 1950 is an Australian politician an Australian Democrats member of the South Australian Legislative Council and her party's sole Roslyn Dundas (born July 28, 1978) is an Australian politician Richard Stanley Leigh Jones (born 16 February 1940) is a former member of the NSW Legislative Council from 13 March 1988 Elisabeth Kirkby (born 26 January 1921) was an Australia -based theatre and Television actor and member of the New South Wales Legislative Arthur Chesterfield-Evans (born 16 June 1950 is an Australian medical practitioner and politician who served as a member of the Legislative Council of New Robin Rhodes Millhouse QC (b 9 December 1929) has been at various times the South Australian Attorney General, the first Australian Democrats Kenneth Lance Milne (d 1996 was an Australian Democrats member of the South Australian Legislative Council from 1979 to 1985 Kathryn Joy "Kate" Reynolds is an Australian politician Norman Karl Sanders (born 15 October 1932) is an Australian former politician representing the Australian Democrats in the Tasmanian
  2. Resigned from party in November 1986 and sat as an Independent/Unite Australia Party Senator until defeat at 1987 election.
  3. Resigned from party in July 1992 and sat as an Independent until defeat at 1993 election.
  4. Resigned from party in July 2002 and sat as an Independent/Australian Progressive Alliance Senator until defeat at 2004 election.
  5. Resigned from party in 1996 and sat as an Independent until retirement at 2003 election.

Footnotes

  1. ^ Democrats History at australianpolitics.com
  2. ^ Senate State First Preferences By Group
  3. ^ Chipp D and Larkin J The Third Man p. 187
  4. ^ Such as the then Socialist Workers' Party and early green-left parties such as the United Tasmania Group. The Democratic Socialist Perspective (DSP is a Marxist political group which operates as the largest component of an Australian Socialist formation the The United Tasmania Group (UTG is generally acknowledged as the world's first Green Party.
  5. ^ The first substantive reason given by rebellious senators for deposing leader Janet Powell in 1991 was her alleged failure to develop a media profile which would attract more electoral support. Janet Frances Powell (born September 29, 1942) in Nhill Victoria, is an Australian politician The first conclusive constitutional abandonment of founding principles was probably the July, 1993, decision of the party's national executive to terminate monthly publication of the members' National Journal and to replace it with less frequent publication of glossy promotional material.
  6. ^ Senate State First Preferences By Group
  7. ^ The Third Man, p. 185
  8. ^ The Third Man, p. 186
  9. ^ Hewat T & Wilson D Don Chipp (1978) p. 84: "[In mid-June, 1977] the party . . . was still without a formal name but operating as the Australian Democrats. "
  10. ^ The Third Man, p. 188
  11. ^ 1980 Conference Proceedings, Beyond our Expectations
  12. ^ AD National Journal June 1990, p. 5
  13. ^ The sole independent member in the House, Ted Mack, was unable to launch his critical motion for lack of a seconder. (Ted Edward Carrington Mack (born 20 December 1933) is an Australian Politician.
  14. ^ Ted Mack's speech on Gulf War
  15. ^ Senate Hansard, 21 Jan, 1991
  16. ^ Stott Despoja resigns as Democrats leader, ABC 7. 30 Report, October 21, 2002
  17. ^ Disgraced leader steps aside, The Age, 7 December 2003. Events 1512 - Martin Luther joins the theological faculty of the University of Wittenberg. See also 2002 (disambiguation Year 2002 ( MMII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. The Age is a Broadsheet daily Newspaper, which has been published in Melbourne, Australia since 1854 Events 43 BC - Marcus Tullius Cicero assassinated 1696 - Connecticut Route 108, one of the oldest highways Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. Retrieved on 2007-04-03.
  18. ^ Australian Democrats Deregistered in Tasmania, ABC News, 5 January 2006
  19. ^ Stott-Despoja denies rumours she is quitting, ABC News, 22 March 2006
  20. ^ Political analyst predicts Democrats' demise, ABC News 11 July 2006
  21. ^ Former leader sees Democrats in 'tatters', ABC News 11 July 2006
  22. ^ Kanck says rave party safer than the front bar, The Advertiser 5 July 2006 Article no longer available online.
  23. ^ Sydney Morning Herald 8 July 2006
  24. ^ Hawke predicts end is near for Democrats, ABC News 29 August 2006
  25. ^ Stott-Despoja to bow out of politics, ABC News 22 October 2006
  26. ^ [http://www.vec.vic.gov.au/state2006resultbypartyUH.html Victorian Electoral Commission: Results for Upper House, 2006
  27. ^ Victorian Electoral Commission: Results for Upper House, 2006
  28. ^ ABC News report
  29. ^ --e. g. , a negative swing of 9. 3% in 1994 saw Adelaide candidate Richard Pascoe reduced to only 1. 59% of the vote. [1]

Further reading

Bennett D, Discord in the Democrats PWHCE article, Melbourne 2002

Beyond Our Expectations—Proceedings of the Australian Democrats First National Conference, Canberra, 16-17 February, 1980. [Papers by: Don Chipp, Sir Mark Oliphant, Prof. Stephen Boyden, Bob Whan, Julian Cribb, Colin Mason, John Siddons, A. McDonald]

Chipp D and Larkin J The Third Man, Rigby, Melbourne (?1978) ISBN 0 7270 0827 7

Chipp D (ed. Larkin J) Chipp, Methuen Haynes, North Ryde NSW, 1987 ISBN 0 454 01345 0

Warhurst Prof J, Don Chipp Was The Right Man In The Right Place At The Right Time Canberra Times 7 Sep 2006

See also

External links

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