The Australian Progressive Alliance (APA) was a minor liberal party in Australia. The party was formed by Senator Meg Lees, the former leader of the Australian Democrats, in April 2003. Lees was its only ever Parliamentary representative. She resigned from the Democrats in July 2002 after having been deposed as the party's leader in April 2001. This is a list about liberalism and political parties around the world. ... 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 Democrats (in regular parlance, just the Democrats), is an Australian social liberal party formed in 1977 from the earlier Australia Party by Don Chipp, who left the Liberal Party of Australia to do so. ... 2003 (MMIII) is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 2002 (MMII) is a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 2001: A Space Odyssey. ...

A number of other prominent former members of the Democrats joined the APA, including former Queensland Senator John Woodley, who was the party's president, and Elisabeth Kirkby, a former member of the New South Wales Legislative Council. Motto: Audax at Fidelis (Bold but Faithful) Nickname: Sunshine State/Smart State Other Australian states and territories Capital Brisbane Government Governor Premier Const. ... The Legislative Council, or upper house, is one of the two chambers of the parliament of New South Wales in Australia. ...

The APA positioned itself as a party of the moderate centre, arguing that the Democrats, under the leadership first of Cheryl Kernot and more recently of Natasha Stott-Despoja and Andrew Bartlett, have moved too far to the left. Lees said in a 2003 interview that the party would appeal to "voters who cannot be dragged to the extremes by the Greens in any enduring way. These are the voters who want more choice in the mainstream, who want to be able to make a positive vote rather than just choose the lesser of several evils." Cheryl Kernot was the fifth leader of the Australian Democrats (April 23, 1993 to October 15, 1997) before controversially changing to become a member of the Australian Labor Party (ALP). ... Natasha Stott Despoja Natasha Stott Despoja (born 1969) is an Australian politician. ... Andrew Bartlett 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 is Deputy Leader and Party Whip. ... 2003 (MMIII) is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Australian Greens is the national Greens party in Australia. ...

The party's "guiding principles" were described as:

• To act with integrity, tolerance and compassion.
• To respect the freedom of the individual particularly the freedoms of association, expression and religion.
• To uphold a system of constitutional checks and balances in Government particularly the separation of powers and the rule of law.
• To commit to a socially just, environmentally responsible and economically sustainable Australia, working for a balance between, and the integration of, social needs, the protection and care of Australia’s unique biodiversity and the equitable collection and spending of revenue.
• To work for positive solutions for all Australians and not be controlled by any one particular group in the community.

At the 2004 federal election Lees sought re-election to the Australian Senate. Despite her high profile in South Australia, she failed to win back her seat. The APA also stood candidates in other states and territories; Reese Malcolm in New South Wales, Chris Grigsby in Victoria, Tony Newman in Queensland, Geoff Gibson in Western Australia and Jeannette Jolley in the ACT. Like most minor parties at that election, the APA did not poll well and failed to win any other seats. Legislative elections were held in Australia on 9 October 2004. ... Australian Senate chamber Entrance to the Senate The Australian Senate is the upper of the two houses of the Parliament of Australia. ... Australian Progressive Alliance Jeannette Jolley (1949-present) was born in the Netherlands and migrated with her family to Australia in 1953, where she completed her training as a high school science teacher in Melbourne. ...

Upon the end of Meg Lees term in June 2005, the party was officially de-registered. 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. ...

See also

• List of political parties in Australia
• Liberalism in Australia

Political parties in Australia lists political parties in Australia. ... 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

• Official website (from archive.org)
• The Progressive Alliance will fill the political vacuum in Australia's centre

Political parties in Australia

Country Liberal Party | Democrats | Family First | Greens | Labor Party | Liberal Party National Party Political parties in Australia lists political parties in Australia. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Australia. ... In Australian politics, the Country Liberal Party (CLP) is the Northern Territory equivalent to the Liberal and National parties - the Country part of the partys name is a relic of when the National Party was called the Country Party. ... The Australian Democrats (in regular parlance, just the Democrats), is an Australian social liberal party formed in 1977 from the earlier Australia Party by Don Chipp, who left the Liberal Party of Australia to do so. ... The Family First Party is a political party in Australia. ... The Australian Greens is the national Greens party in Australia. ... The Australian Labor Party or ALP is Australias oldest political party. ... The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian liberal conservative political party. ... The National Party of Australia is an Australian political party. ...