The Australian Democrats is an Australian political party which was formed in 1977 through a merger of the Australia Party and the Liberal Movement after principals of those minor parties secured the commitment of former Liberal minister Don Chipp as a high-profile leader^[1]. The new party was based on the principles of honesty, tolerance and compassion—and direct democracy through postal ballots of all members, so that there should be no hierarchical structure. . . by which a carefully engineered elite could make decisions for the members. ^[2] 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.
Image File history File links Ausdem_newlogo. ... Lynette Fay Lyn Allison (born 21 October 1946), Australian politician, has been a member of the Australian Senate for the state of Victoria since July 1996. ... Social liberalism is either a synonym for new liberalism or a label used by progressive liberal parties in order to differentiate themselves from the more conservative liberal parties, especially when there are two or more liberal parties in a country. ... Political parties in Australia lists political parties in Australia. ... The Australia Party was the name minor political party in Australia (not to be confused with the Australian Party, which was set up by Billy Hughes in 1930). ... The Liberal Movement was a minor Australian political party that flourished in the 1970s. ... Don Chipp Donald Leslie Chipp (21 August 1925 – 28 August 2006) was an Australian politician, and founder of the Australian Democrats. ...

Policies determined by the unique participatory method were socially progressive, promoting 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. This actually reflected the first emergence of 'green' politics in Australia, and the Democrats took centre stage in forcing legislation for the cause célèbre of saving Tasmania's Franklin River. However, the former conservative affiliation of leader Don Chipp was recalled by competitors^[3] in an ongoing campaign to discredit the sincerity of the Democrats. The party's 'centreline' role was, therefore, always subjected to vindictive criticism from both the 'right' and 'left' of the political spectrum, a reality which 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.^[4] The photograph Morning Mist, Rock Island Bend, Franklin River, by Peter Dombrovskis, was used by the Tasmanian Wilderness Society in advertising. ...

In its first decade, the Democrats secured representation in the legislatures of South Australia, New South Wales and Tasmania, and Senate seats in all six states. By 2002 however, it was clear that the Democrats has suffered a very significant fall in their support base and a low point was reached in 2004 when, for the first time, no Australian Democrats candidate succeeded in gaining election to the Senate. It now seems unlikely that the party's four senators elected in 2001 will be returned or replaced to continue a federal presence beyond 30 June, 2008.
Federal elections were held in Australia on 9 October 2004. ... Federal elections were held in Australia on 10 November 2001. ...

Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 397 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (423 × 639 pixel, file size: 21 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Australian fair dealing law (similar in many respects to fair use in the United States) permits the use of images for: Book cover: Don Chipp... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 388 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (414 × 640 pixel, file size: 25 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) The Third Man: Dust jacket design for 1978 book about Don Chipp Model by Leigh Hobbs; Design by Barbara Beckett; Photography by Ian McKenzie. ...

History

1977-79

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^[5]—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. 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.^[6] The name "Australian Democrats", already in informal currency^[7], was confirmed by the membership, being the most favoured of 56 alternative names on the postal ballot paper.^[8]
Sir John Grey Gorton GCMG AC CH (9 September 1911 – 19 May 2002), Australian politician, was the 19th Prime Minister of Australia. ...

The first Australian Democrats (AD) federal parliamentarian was Senator Janine Haines who filled Steele Hall's casual Senate vacancy for South Australia in 1977. Surprisingly, she was not a candidate when the party contested the 1977 federal elections after Don Chipp had agreed to be leader and figurehead. 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. 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. Janine Haines AM (8 May 1945 – 20 November 2004), Australian politician, was the first woman to lead a political party in Australia. ... Raymond Steele Hall was Premier of South Australia from 1968 to 1970, Senator for South Australia from 1975 to 1977 and federal member for Boothby constituency from 1981 to 1996. ... Legislative elections were held in Australia on December 10, 1977. ... Federal elections were held in Australia on October 25, 1969. ... Federal elections were held in Australia on May 18, 1974. ... Federal elections were held in Australia on December 13, 1975. ... Balance of power refers to the division, distribution, or separation of powers within a national political system. ...

The grassroot support attracted by Chipp's leadership was measurable at the party's first electoral test on 10 December, 1977, when 9.38% 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 16.66%. However, the first 6-year-term seats were won by Don Chipp (Vic) and Colin Mason (NSW). Legislative elections were held in Australia on December 10, 1977. ... The Droop quota is the quota most commonly used in elections held under the Single Transferable Vote (STV) system. ... Colin Victor James Mason is an Australian journalist, author and politician who was elected to the Australian Senate at the 1977 election as a senator for New South Wales, joining with Don Chipp (Victoria) in the first accession of the Australian Democrats to the Senate. ...

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: Sir Marcus Mark Laurence Elwin Oliphant AC KBE (October 8, 1901 – July 14, 2000) was an Australian physicist and humanitarian who played a fundamental role in the development of the Atomic bomb. ...

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. 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.^[9]

At the October 1980 election, the Democrats polled 9.25% 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 . Legislative elections were held in Australia on October 18, 1980. ... Janine Haines AM (8 May 1945 – 20 November 2004), Australian politician, was the first woman to lead a political party in Australia. ... Dr Michael Macklin, Ph. ...

1990-91

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. 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. 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.^[10] In the event, Janet Powell was successful and John Coulter was chosen as deputy leader. Janine Haines AM (8 May 1945 – 20 November 2004), Australian politician, was the first woman to lead a political party in Australia. ... The Division of Kingston is an Australian Electoral Division in South Australia. ... Meg Lees Meg Heather Lees (born October 19, 1948) has been the founder and sole representative of the Australian Progressive Alliance in the Australian Senate since 2003, representing the state of South Australia. ... Cheryl Kernot (Pronounced Ker-no) (born December 5, 1948) is a former Australian politician. ... Dr Michael Macklin, Ph. ... Janet Frances Powell (born September 29, 1942) in Nhill, Victoria, is an Australian politician. ... Fourth leader of the Australian Democrats, from October 2, 1991 to April 29, 1993. ...

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. In macroeconomics, the definition of recession is a decline in any countrys Gross Domestic Product (GDP), or negative real economic growth, for two or more successive quarters of a year. ...

Janet Powell made a spirited attack on both the government and opposition which had closed ranks in support of the oil war. Whereas the House of Representatives was thus able to avoid any debate about the war and Australia's participation^{[11] [12]} the Democrats took full advantage of the opportunity to move for a debate in the Senate, and the Hansard record is there to view.^[13]

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 Gallop 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. With national-executive blessing, the party room pre-empted the ballot by replacing the leader with deputy Coulter. In the process, severe internal divisions were generated, dramatically overturning the party's professed spirit of tolerant participatory democracy. One major collateral casualty was the experienced party whip Paul McLean who resigned and quit the Senate in disgust at what he recognised as violent infighting between close friends. The casual NSW vacancy was filled by Karin Sowada. McLean Family (rugby union footballers) The McLean family were a remarkable Australian rugby clan who between them played 77 Tests for the Australian national rugby union team and a number of Tests for the Australian national rugby league team. ... Karin Nicole Sowada (born November 1, 1961) is an Australian politician and archaeologist. ...

Policy

The party's original support base was disaffected middle-class traditional Liberal voters from the centre-right Liberal Party's socially liberal, "wet" wing, together with a medley of people concerned about environmental issues and social justice. The party aimed to combine liberal social policies with centrist, particularly neo-Keynesian economics and a progressive environmental platform. However, the major parties, including the social democratic Labor Party, have moved to the right on economics since the early 1980s, shifting the 'centre' of Australian politics well to the right. Thus the Democrats have come to be seen as leaning to the left on economic as well as social issues. This article includes a list of works cited or a list of external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks in-text citations. ... Social democracy is a political ideology emerging in the late 19th and early 20th centuries from supporters of Marxism who believed that the transition to a socialist society could be achieved through democratic evolutionary rather than revolutionary means. ... This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ...

The Democrats' agenda includes 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. Its core support base is overwhelmingly tertiary-educated, and middle-class. The party also explicitly targets voters who seek a brake on the powers of the government of the day to change things or to have alternative views aired in the Senate and media. Economic interventionism is a term used to describe activity undertaken by a central government to affect a countrys economy in an attempt to increase economic growth and/or standards of living. ... For the psychology topic, see Environmental psychology. ... A monument to reconciliation in Ottawa. ... Languages Several hundred indigenous Australian languages (many extinct or nearly so), Australian English, Australian Aboriginal English, Torres Strait Creole, Kriol Religions Primarily Christian, with minorities of other religions including various forms of Traditional belief systems based around the Dreamtime Related ethnic groups see List of Indigenous Australian group names Indigenous... Pacifism is the opposition to war or violence as a means of settling disputes or gaining advantage. ... Human rights are rights which some hold to be inalienable and belonging to all humans. ... Students attend a lecture at a tertiary institution. ... The middle class (or middle classes) comprises a social group once defined by exception as an intermediate social class between the nobility and the peasantry. ...

The party has a platform of participatory democracy, with policies supporting proportional representation and citizen-initiated referenda. 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 have extensive freedom in interpreting them. The ballot mechanism is also susceptible to fluctuations in information flow and to manipulation or obstruction by the party officers charged with authenticating and actioning member-initiated petitions. 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 that groups of candidates (grouped by a certain measure) obtain in elections and the percentage of seats they receive (usually in legislative assemblies). ... A referendum (plural: referendums or referenda) or plebiscite is a direct vote in which an entire electorate is asked to either accept or reject a particular proposal. ...

Electoral fortunes

Don Chipp, Democrats leader 1977-1986

Janine Haines, first female leader of a parliamentary party in Australia

The Democrats' electoral fortunes have fluctuated throughout their history. Image File history File linksMetadata No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File linksMetadata No higher resolution available. ... Don Chipp Donald Leslie Chipp (21 August 1925 – 28 August 2006) was an Australian politician, and founder of the Australian Democrats. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Janine Haines AM (8 May 1945 – 20 November 2004), Australian politician, was the first woman to lead a political party in Australia. ...

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 after previously being an Australian trade union leader. ... For other persons named Paul Keating, see Paul Keating (disambiguation). ...

Their power was somewhat weakened in 1996 after the Howard government was elected, and a Labor Senator, Mal Colston, resigned from the Labor party. 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. After the 1998 election the Democrats again held the balance of power, until the Coalition gained a Senate majority at the 2004 election. John Winston Howard (born 26 July 1939) is an Australian politician and the 25th Prime Minister of Australia. ... Dr Malcolm Arthur Colston (1938 – 2003), Australian politician, was a Senator in the Parliament of Australia representing the state of Queensland between 13 December 1975 and 30 June 1999. ... Brian Harradine (born January 9, Australian politician, has been an independent member of the Australian Senate since 1975, representing the state of Tasmania. ... Judicial High Court Lower Courts Constitution State and territory governments Executive Governors and Administrators Premiers and Chief Ministers Legislative Parliaments and Assemblies State electoral systems ACT - NSW - NT - Qld. ... Federal elections were held in Australia on 9 October 2004. ...

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. 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. 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 1980s and 1990s. ... For the school of international relations, see Neoliberalism (international relations). ... This article concerns the modern Australian political party. ...

In due course, Cheryl Kernot achieved her leadership ambition and began introducing a top-down style both in the party room and the national executive. Her media appeal and performance were splendid, which greatly increased media and public awareness of herself and the party, though not necessarily of the Democrats' traditional policies and participatory ethos. 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, ending some 13 continuous years of Labor government, there was need to re-evaluate 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. 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. John Winston Howard (born 26 July 1939) is an Australian politician and the 25th Prime Minister of Australia. ...

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 of 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.^{[citation needed]} A Boeing employee speaks at a trade union rally The field of industrial relations looks at the relationship between management and workers, particularly groups of workers represented by a union. ...

Kernot, however, remained both ambitious and broadly opposed to the Liberal government. This, together with her personal ambition for a role in government, lead 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".^{[citation needed]} 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. Legislative elections were held in Australia on 3 October 1998. ... John Schumann is an Australian music artist who is best known as the lead singer and songwriter for the folk group Redgum, which is most noted for their chart-topping hit I Was Only 19 (A Walk in the Light Green), a song exploring the medical side-effects of chemical... Alexander John Gosse Downer, MP (born 9 September 1951), Australian politician, became Foreign Minister of Australia in March 1996. ... The Division of Mayo is an Australian Electoral Division located in the hills, east of Adelaide, South Australia and currently includes the towns of Victor Harbor, Lobethal, Mount Barker, Strathalbyn and Woodside. ... Preferential voting (or preference voting) is a type of ballot structure used in several electoral systems in which voters rank a list or group of candidates in order of preference. ...

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. 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. 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. This support allowed the tax to pass into law, which resulted in widespread decline in support for the Democrats. The GST (Goods and Services Tax) is a value added tax of 10% on most goods and services sold in Australia. ... John Winston Howard (born 26 July 1939) is an Australian politician and the 25th Prime Minister of Australia. ... Natasha Stott Despoja Natasha Jessica Stott Despoja (born 9 September 1969), Australian politician, has been an Australian Democrats member of the Australian Senate for South Australia since November 1995. ... Bartlett speaks at the launch of his campaign for re-election to the Australian Senate in July 2007 Andrew John Julian Bartlett (born 4 August 1964), Australian politician, has been a member of the Australian Senate for the state of Queensland since 1997, representing the Australian Democrats, of which he...

After very poor state election results in 2001, Lees was replaced by the articulate young left-leaning senator, Natasha Stott Despoja. 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. Natasha Stott Despoja Natasha Jessica Stott Despoja (born 9 September 1969), Australian politician, has been an Australian Democrats member of the Australian Senate for South Australia since November 1995. ... Kerry Nettle Kerry Michelle Nettle (born 24 December 1973) is an Australian Senator. ...

(The task was not made any easier by the Tampa affair.) Ongoing tensions between Stott Despoja and Lees (who quit the party in 2002, but was supported by some of the Senators, nicknamed the Gang of Four by the media) forced 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. This new party clearly followed the Democrat direction not taken by the Greens. It was very short-lived. The MV Tampa is a Norwegian cargo ship that was at the center of a diplomatic dispute between Australia, Norway, and Indonesia off the coast of Christmas Island. ... In Chinese history, the Gang of Four was a group of Communist politicians based in Shanghai. ... Meg Lees Meg Heather Lees (born October 19, 1948) has been the founder and sole representative of the Australian Progressive Alliance in the Australian Senate since 2003, representing the state of South Australia. ... The Australian Progressive Alliance (APA) was a minor liberal party in Australia. ...

Since the decision to support the GST in 1999, and especially after the very public infighting in 2002, the Democrats have suffered a severe decline in public support. Although the left-right division within the parliamentary party and between the parliamentary party and the grass roots membership has existed for many years, the recent leadership battles have created bitterness within the party, and exposed the disunity to public scrutiny. With the Australian Greens picking up many of their voters on the left, and some voters from the centre returning to the Liberals, the Democrats are facing their greatest crisis to date. The Australian Greens, commonly known as The Greens, is a Green Australian political party. ...

At the height of the disunity in 2002, most political observers believed that the party would soon split or disappear as a serious force in Australian politics. Under Senator Bartlett's leadership the Democrats found a degree of stability and an end to public feuding.

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. The party issued a statement stating that Deputy Leader Lyn Allison would serve as the Acting Leader of the party. 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. Andrew Bartlett has not consumed any alcohol since that incident. December 6 is the 340th day of the year (341st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article concerns the modern Australian political party. ... Jeannie Margaret Ferris (born 14 March 1941), Australian politician, has been a Liberal member of the Australian Senate since July 1996, representing South Australia. ... The main entrance to Parliament House in Canberra, with the flag mast visible. ... Lyn Allison Lynette Fay Lyn Allison (born 21 October 1946), has been an Australian Democrats member of the Australian Senate since July 1996, representing the state of Victoria. ... January 29 is the 29th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

2004 federal election

Almost totally ignored by the media during the election campaign,^{[citation needed]} the Democrats suffered a massive loss of support at the 2004 Federal election, reducing them to 1.24% 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 at polling booths in 2001, and between 1% and 4% in 2004. None of their senators up for re-election survived the vote. Legislative elections were held in Australia on 9 October 2004. ... For other uses, see Adelaide (disambiguation). ...

Most electoral analysts concluded that, while most of the party's left-wing support had gone to the Greens (who now had an equal number of Senate seats with the Democrats and seemed to have taken their place as the leading minor party), many of the party's centrist middle-class voters from a 'wet Liberal' background had returned to the Liberal Party, helping the Howard Government to win a majority in the Senate, the first government to do so for a quarter of a century. With their Senate numbers almost halved, the Democrats face complete annihilation at the next election if the 2004 result is repeated.

Following the loss, Bartlett did not stand for the normal post-election leadership ballot with Allison becoming the new leader and Bartlett the deputy. However, Allison, like Bartlett, has failed to gain any real media exposure or to increase the party's support in opinion polls.

On 1 July 2005 the Democrats lost most of their remaining parliamentary influence when the senators elected in 2004 were sworn in, giving the governing Coalition outright control of the Senate. is the 182nd day of the year (183rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 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.^[14] is the 5th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

On 18 March 2006, at the 2006 South Australian State election, the Democrats were reduced to 1.7% of the Legislative Council (upper house) vote. Their sole member of Parliament up for re-election, Kate Reynolds, was subsequently defeated. is the 77th day of the year (78th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Legislative elections for the Parliament of South Australia were held in South Australia on March 18, 2006. ... Hon. ...

In the days following the election, rumours were reported that South Australian Senator Natasha Stott-Despoja, facing re-election at the next poll, might quit the party. She has denied these rumours. ^[15] Natasha Stott Despoja Natasha Stott Despoja (born 1969) is an Australian politician. ...

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 that have been damaging to the party.^{[16] [17] [18]} Motto: United for the Common Wealth Other Australian states and territories Capital Adelaide Governor Marjorie Jackson-Nelson Premier Mike Rann (ALP) Area 1,043,514 km² (4th)  - Land 983,482 km²  - Water 60,032 km² (5. ... Hon. ... ecstasy and religious ecstasy MDMA, most commonly known today by the street name ecstasy, is a synthetic entactogen of the phenethylamine family whose primary effect is to stimulate the brain to rapidly secrete large amounts of serotonin, causing a general sense of openness, empathy, energy, euphoria, and well-being. ...

On 5 July 2006, Democrats senator Andrew Murray announced his intention not to seek re-election at 2007 federal election, citing the frustration arising from the Howard Government's control of both houses of Federal Parliament, and the long duration of any future Senate term.^[19]. He will, however, continue to sit as an Australian Democrats senator until the end of the current Senate term in 2008. is the 186th day of the year (187th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Andrew James Marshall Murray (born 29 January 1947), Australian politician, has been an Australian Democrats member of the Australian Senate since July 1996, representing Western Australia. ... The next Australian legislative election is expected to take place in late 2007, although it can be held as late as 19 January 2008. ...

On 28 August, 2006 the founder of the Democrats, Don Chipp, died. Former prime minister Bob Hawke suggested that Chipp's death would hasten the death of the Australian Democrats.^[20] Don Chipp Donald Leslie Chipp (21 August 1925 – 28 August 2006) was an Australian politician, and founder of the Australian Democrats. ...

On 22 October 2006, Democrats Senator Natasha Stott Despoja announced her intention to not seek re-election at 2007 federal election due to health concerns.^[21] She will however continue to sit as an Australian Democrats senator until the end of the current Senate term in 2008. Her decision, as the Democrats senator with the highest profile and greatest chance for re-election, is widely expected to make it much more difficult for the Democrats to retain their South Australian Senate seat at the coming Federal Election. is the 295th day of the year (296th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Natasha Stott Despoja Natasha Jessica Stott Despoja (born 9 September 1969), Australian politician, has been an Australian Democrats member of the Australian Senate for South Australia since November 1995. ... The next Australian legislative election is expected to take place in late 2007, although it can be held as late as 19 January 2008. ...

The November 2006 Victorian State Election returned a poor result for the Democrats, their Legislative Council vote less than half that returned in 2002.

2007

In the New South Wales state election of March 2007, the Democrats lost their last remaining NSW Upper House representative, Arthur Chesterfield-Evans. 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. Arthur Chesterfield-Evans is a politician who is a member of the Legislative Council of New South Wales. ...

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 Green candidates.

In the 2007 Federal Election more candidates have stood. The next Australian legislative election is expected to take place in late 2007, although it can be held as late as 19 January 2008. ...

On 13 September 2007, the ACT Democrats (Australian Capital Territory Division of the party) were deregistered by the ACT Electoral Commission as a political party in the Australian Capital Territory. Deregistration occurred as the ACT Democrats were unable to meet legislative requirements of having at least 100 members who were registered electors. Such deregistration will preclude the party being able to run candidates under the party name at the forthcoming ACT Election in October 2008.

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). Therefore, they never managed to win a House of Representatives seat (despite coming close on a number of occasions). 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 Central Business District of Sydney, Australia. ... For other uses, see Adelaide (disambiguation). ... Australian House of Representatives chamber Entrance to the House of Representatives The Australian House of Representatives is one of the two houses (chambers) of the Parliament of Australia. ... Australian Senate chamber Entrance to the Senate 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 1.24% nationally, and less than 3% of the vote at all but a handful of booths, even in their Adelaide heartland^[22] The Australian Greens, commonly known as The Greens, is a Green Australian political party. ... This article concerns the modern Australian political party. ...

Leadership

The Democrats are notable for their willingness to elect female and Indigenous Australian parliamentary leadership. Of the party's ten leaders, six have been women. Aboriginal Senator Aden Ridgeway was deputy leader under Natasha Stott Despoja. Australian Aborigines are the indigenous peoples of Australia. ... Aden Ridgeway 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 Australian Democrats. ...

The Parliamentary leaders of the Australian Democrats have been:

• Don Chipp (1977 -1986)
• Janine Haines (1986 - 1990)
• Michael Macklin (1990 interim)
• Janet Powell (1990 - 91)
• John Coulter (1991 - 93)
• Cheryl Kernot (1993 - 97)
• Meg Lees (1997 - 2001)
• Natasha Stott Despoja (6 April 2001 to 21 August 2002)
• Brian Greig (2002 interim)¹
• Andrew Bartlett (2002 - 2004)
• Lyn Allison (2004 - Present)

Don Chipp Donald Leslie Chipp (21 August 1925 – 28 August 2006) was an Australian politician, and founder of the Australian Democrats. ... Janine Haines AM (8 May 1945 – 20 November 2004), Australian politician, was the first woman to lead a political party in Australia. ... Dr Michael Macklin, Ph. ... Janet Frances Powell (born September 29, 1942) in Nhill, Victoria, is an Australian politician. ... Fourth leader of the Australian Democrats, from October 2, 1991 to April 29, 1993. ... Cheryl Kernot (Pronounced Ker-no) (born December 5, 1948) is a former Australian politician. ... Meg Lees Meg Heather Lees (born October 19, 1948) has been the founder and sole representative of the Australian Progressive Alliance in the Australian Senate since 2003, representing the state of South Australia. ... Natasha Stott Despoja Natasha Jessica Stott Despoja (born 9 September 1969), Australian politician, has been an Australian Democrats member of the Australian Senate for South Australia since November 1995. ... is the 96th day of the year (97th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2001 (MMI) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 2001 Gregorian calendar). ... is the 233rd day of the year (234th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Also see: 2002 (number). ... Brian Greig Brian Andrew Greig (born February 22, Australian politician, has been an Australian Democrats member of the Australian Senate since July 1999, representing the state of Western Australia. ... Bartlett speaks at the launch of his campaign for re-election to the Australian Senate in July 2007 Andrew John Julian Bartlett (born 4 August 1964), Australian politician, has been a member of the Australian Senate for the state of Queensland since 1997, representing the Australian Democrats, of which he... Lyn Allison Lynette Fay Lyn Allison (born 21 October 1946), has been an Australian Democrats member of the Australian Senate since July 1996, representing the state of Victoria. ...

Senators

Current Senators

• Lyn Allison, Victoria (1996 - Present)
• Andrew Murray, Western Australia (1996 - Present) (expected to serve until 2008)
• Andrew Bartlett, Queensland (1997 - Present)
• Natasha Stott-Despoja, South Australia (1995 - Present) (expected to serve until 2008)[2]

Lyn Allison Lynette Fay Lyn Allison (born 21 October 1946), has been an Australian Democrats member of the Australian Senate since July 1996, representing the state of Victoria. ... Andrew James Marshall Murray (born 29 January 1947), Australian politician, has been an Australian Democrats member of the Australian Senate since July 1996, representing Western Australia. ... Bartlett speaks at the launch of his campaign for re-election to the Australian Senate in July 2007 Andrew John Julian Bartlett (born 4 August 1964), Australian politician, has been a member of the Australian Senate for the state of Queensland since 1997, representing the Australian Democrats, of which he... Natasha Stott Despoja Natasha Stott Despoja (born 1969) is an Australian politician. ...

Former Senators

• Janine Haines, South Australia (1977 - 1978; 1981 - 1990)
• Don Chipp, Victoria (1978 - 1986)
• Colin Mason, New South Wales (1978 - 1987)
• Michael Macklin, Queensland (1981 - 1990)
• John Siddons, Victoria (1981 - 1983; 1985 - 1986)²
• Jack Evans, Western Australia (1983 - 1985)
• David Vigor, South Australia (1985 - 1987)
• Norm Sanders, Tasmania (1985 - 1990)
• Janet Powell, Victoria (1986 - 1992)³
• Paul McLean, New South Wales (1987 - 1991)
• Jean Jenkins, Western Australia (1987 - 1990)
• Vicki Bourne, New South Wales (1990 - 2002)
• Sid Spindler, Victoria (1990 - 1996)
• Cheryl Kernot, Queensland (1990 - 1997)
• John Coulter, South Australia (1990 - 1995)
• Robert Bell, Tasmania (1990 - 1996)
• Karin Sowada, New South Wales (1991 - 1993)
• John Woodley, Queensland (1993 - 2001)
• Meg Lees, South Australia (1993 - 2002)⁴
• Aden Ridgeway, New South Wales (1999 - 2005)
• Brian Greig, Western Australia (1999 - 2005)
• John Cherry, Queensland (2001 - 2005)

Janine Haines AM (8 May 1945 – 20 November 2004), Australian politician, was the first woman to lead a political party in Australia. ... Don Chipp Donald Leslie Chipp (21 August 1925 – 28 August 2006) was an Australian politician, and founder of the Australian Democrats. ... Colin Victor James Mason is an Australian journalist, author and politician who was elected to the Australian Senate at the 1977 election as a senator for New South Wales, joining with Don Chipp (Victoria) in the first accession of the Australian Democrats to the Senate. ... Dr Michael Macklin, Ph. ... David Bernard Vigor (26 June 1939 - 9 April 1998) was a member of the Australian Senate, representing the Australian Democrats. ... Norman Karl Sanders (b. ... 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 (b. ... Vicki Worrall Bourne (born October 22, 1954) is a former Australian Democrats Senator for New South Wales from 1990 to 2002. ... Cheryl Kernot (Pronounced Ker-no) (born December 5, 1948) is a former Australian politician. ... Fourth leader of the Australian Democrats, from October 2, 1991 to April 29, 1993. ... Robert Bell is the name of more than one person: Sir Robert Bell (d. ... Karin Nicole Sowada (born November 1, 1961) is an Australian politician and archaeologist. ... John Woodley (b. ... Meg Lees Meg Heather Lees (born October 19, 1948) has been the founder and sole representative of the Australian Progressive Alliance in the Australian Senate since 2003, representing the state of South Australia. ... Aden Ridgeway 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 Australian Democrats. ... Brian Greig Brian Andrew Greig (born February 22, Australian politician, has been an Australian Democrats member of the Australian Senate since July 1999, representing the state of Western Australia. ... Image:JohnCherry. ...

State parliamentarians

Current members

South Australia

• Sandra Kanck (1993 - Present)

Hon. ...

Former Members

Australian Capital Territory

• Roslyn Dundas (2001-2004)

Roslyn Dundas (born July 28, 1978) is an Australian politician. ...

New South Wales

• Richard Jones (1988 - 1996)⁵
• Elisabeth Kirkby (1981 - 1998)
• Arthur Chesterfield-Evans (1998 - 2007)

Richard Jones (born 1940) is a former NSW member of the Legislative Council, a member of the parliament from 1988 to 2003. ... Wendy Blacklock as Edie and Elisabeth Kirkby as Lucy in Number 96. ... Arthur Chesterfield-Evans is a politician who is a member of the Legislative Council of New South Wales. ...

Western Australia

• Norm Kelly (1996 - 2001)
• Helen Hodgson (1996 - 2001)

South Australia

• Robin Millhouse (1977 - 1982)
• Heather Southcott (1982)
• Lance Milne (1979-1985)
• Ian Gilfillan (1982-1993, 1997-2006)
• Michael Elliott (1985 - 2003)
• Kate Reynolds (2003 - 2006)

Robin Rhodes Millhouse QC (b. ... Lance Milne (d. ... Hon. ...

Tasmania

• Norm Sanders (1980 - 1982)

Norman Karl Sanders (b. ...

Notes

1. Appointed Interim Leader from 23 August 2002 until 5 October 2002.
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

The Democratic Socialist Perspective (DSP), is a Marxist political tendency within a broad Australian socialist grouping, the Socialist Alliance. ... The United Tasmania Group (UTG) is generally acknowledged as the worlds first Green Party. ... Janet Frances Powell (born September 29, 1942) in Nhill, Victoria, is an Australian politician. ... (Ted) Edward Carrington Mack (born 20 December 1933) is an Australian politician. ...

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

• Liberalism
• Liberalism worldwide
• List of liberal parties
• Liberal democracy
• Timeline of (small-l) liberal parties in Australia

Liberalism is an ideology, philosophical view, and political tradition which holds that liberty is the primary political value. ... This article discusses liberalism as a major political current in specific regions and countries. ... This is an overview of parties that adhere more or less (explicitly) to the ideas of political liberalism and is therefore a list of liberal parties around the world. ... Liberal democracy is a form of government. ... This article is part of or related to the Liberalism series References A page examining the divergence between the Australian Liberal Party and liberals from ozpolitics. ...

External links

• Australian Democrats official site
• Don Chipp Foundation
• Senator Andrew Bartlett
• Natasha Stott Despoja :: Senator for SA
• Young Australian Democrats

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