Western Australia Party

Last updated

Western Australia Party
Secretary Stephen Phelan
Founded2016;8 years ago (2016)
Dissolved2 August 2023
Headquarters19/4 Ventnor Avenue, West Perth, 6005 WA
Ideology Regionalism
Populism
Political position Centre

The Western Australia Party (WAP) was a regional political party active in Western Australia.

Contents

The party was founded in 2016 by Julie Matheson, a councillor with the City of Subiaco as Julie Matheson for Western Australia to contest the 2017 state election. [1] In July 2017, the party's name was changed to the Western Australia Party. [2]

The party's ideological focus was a combination of centrism, populism and regionalism, drawing from the position of Matheson and John Forrest. Its core policies include reform to Local Government, WA's Family Court, and tax reform. [3]

The party was deregistered on 2 August 2023. [4]

History

Matheson unsuccessfully ran for the Australian Senate at the 2016 federal election as an independent candidate. Following her defeat, Matheson registered the Julie Matheson for Western Australia party in order to contest the 2017 Western Australian state election. [5] The party received just 0.5% of first-preference votes in the Legislative Assembly, and 0.4% in the Legislative Council. [6]

In 2017, the party rebranded as the "Western Australia Party", with the aim of contesting the next federal election on a platform advocating for Western Australia receiving more GST. The party was reported to have received financial support from a group of local businessmen, with retired barrister and judge Peter Nisbet serving as a spokesman and another retired barrister Bevan Lawrence serving on the party's steering committee; Matheson also remained involved. Nisbet stated that the party's "sole objective is to get a better deal with the GST and, secondly, a better share of defence contracts". [7]

In the 2018 Cottesloe by-election the new party polled 9% of first preference votes, [8] and 5.8% of first preference votes in the Darling Range by-election that same year. [9]

As the party was not registered with the Australian Electoral Commission, Matheson contested the 2018 Perth by-election as an independent candidate. After the by-election, the party applied to be registered on a federal level. This registration was granted on 30 August 2018. [10]

In 2019, the party contested its first federal election, running 20 candidates across Western Australia. However, the party again fared poorly, gaining only 1.8% in the House of Representatives and 1.2% in the Senate.

On 12 May 2020, the party gained its first member of parliament when former One Nation MP and Legislative Council member for East Metropolitan, Charles Smith, joined the party. [11]

In August 2021 former Nationals MLC Dave Grills took over leadership of the party from Julie Matheson. [12]

In 2022 former Liberal party member Anthony Fels announced he would be running in the North West Central for WAP. [13]

Ideology and positions

The Western Australia Party promoted itself as a centrist alternative to the major parties. [14] [15] Where decisions are made based on what's in the best interests of Western Australia as opposed to party ideology. As such the party has a wide array of political ideas with members coming from many other political parties.

The party's centrist image was reinforced through preferences. The party always used a split-ticket system of preferencing, and at the 2019 federal election, the party's preferences were the most evenly split of any political party in Australia. [16]

Throughout its history, the party held policies to change taxation laws in Western Australia. Including a 100% per capita share of the G.S.T., removing payroll and capital gains tax, and the removal of fringe benefits tax. Further policies include reform to the Western Australian Family Court and Local Government Systems. [17]

In 2023 the Party endorsed the No vote during the 2023 Australian Indigenous Voice referendum. [18] [19] [20] [ dead link ]

Elected representatives

Current

City of Melville

  • Katy Mair (2021−)

City of Nedlands

  • Andrew Mangano (2017−)

Former

Western Australian Legislative Council

City of Subiaco

  • Julie Matheson (2016−2021)

Election results

The Western Australia fielded 20 candidates in the 2019 Australian Federal Election, however none were elected.

Federal

House of Representatives
Election year# of
overall votes
 % of
overall vote
# of
overall seats won
# of
overall seats
+/–Notes
2019 25,2980.18 (#18)
0 / 151
0 / 151
Steady2.svg
2022 33,2630.23 (#13)
0 / 151
0 / 151
Steady2.svg
Senate
Election year# of
overall votes
 % of
overall vote
# of
overall seats won
# of
overall seats
+/–Notes
2019 17,2130.12 (#35)
0 / 40
0 / 76
Steady2.svg

Western Australia

Legislative Assembly
Election year# of
overall votes
 % of
overall vote
# of
overall seats won
# of
overall seats
+/–Notes
2017 6,1450.47 (#9)
0 / 59
0 / 59
Steady2.svg 0
2021 5,2760.37 (#11)
0 / 59
0 / 59
Steady2.svg 0
Legislative Council
Election year# of
overall votes
 % of
overall vote
# of
overall seats won
# of
overall seats
+/–Notes
2017 5,2700.39 (#14)
0 / 36
0 / 36
Steady2.svg 0
2021 10,4960.73 (#10)
0 / 36
0 / 36
Steady2.svg 0

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2001 Australian federal election</span> Election for the 40th Parliament of Australia

The 2001 Australian federal election was held in Australia on 10 November 2001. All 150 seats in the House of Representatives and 40 seats in the 76-member Senate were up for election. The incumbent Liberal Party of Australia led by Prime Minister of Australia John Howard and coalition partner the National Party of Australia led by John Anderson defeated the opposition Australian Labor Party led by Kim Beazley. As of 2024, this was the most recent election to feature a rematch of both major party leaders. Future Opposition Leader Peter Dutton entered parliament at this election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1998 Australian federal election</span>

The 1998 Australian federal election was held to determine the members of the 39th Parliament of Australia. It was held on 3 October 1998. All 148 seats of the House of Representatives and 40 seats of the 76 seat Senate were up for election. The incumbent centre-right Liberal/National Coalition government led by Prime Minister John Howard of the Liberal Party and coalition partner Tim Fischer of the National Party defeated the centre-left Australian Labor Party opposition led by Opposition Leader Kim Beazley, despite losing the nationwide popular and two-party preferred vote. However, the Australian Labor Party gained seats compared to the previous election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Division of Swan</span> Australian federal electoral division

The Division of Swan is an Australian electoral division located in Western Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Colin Barnett</span> Former Western Australian politician (born 1950)

Colin James Barnett is an Australian former politician who was the 29th Premier of Western Australia. He concurrently served as the state's Treasurer at several points during his tenure and had previously held various other portfolios in Western Australia's Court–Cowan Ministry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Division of Curtin</span> Australian federal electoral division

The Division of Curtin is an Australian electoral division in Western Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Electoral district of Nedlands</span> State electoral district of Western Australia

Nedlands is a Legislative Assembly electorate in the state of Western Australia. Nedlands is named for the inner western Perth suburb of Nedlands, which falls within its borders.

The Climate Change Coalition (CCC), briefly known as 4Change, was an Australian political party, which was formed in 2007 with a view to accelerate action by politicians from all parties on global warming and climate change. Its position on working towards addressing climate change stressed cooperation with big business in order to achieve significant progress on the issue. The party therefore advocated a close working relationship between environmentalists and the business community. The CCC was registered as a political party with the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) on 4 September 2007 and deregistered on 25 March 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Non-Custodial Parents Party (Equal Parenting)</span> Political party in Australia

The Non-Custodial Parents Party was a minor political party in Australia registered between 1999 and 2020. It supported less government control of many aspects of daily family life, focusing on reform of family law and child support.

The No Goods and Services Tax Party, previously the Abolish Child Support and Family Court Party, was a minor Australian political party registered between 1997 and 2006 which fielded candidates between the 1998 and 2004 federal elections. The change of name in 2001 was largely a response to the Howard Government's implementation of the Goods and Services Tax. It polled low totals. One Nation founder David Ettridge contested the Senate in Queensland in 2001 for the party.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Australian Christians (political party)</span> Political party in Australia

The Australian Christians is a political party in Australia that is described as socially conservative and Christian-conservative. It was founded in 2011 and was registered by the Australian Electoral Commission on 15 December 2011. It is primarily active in Western Australia and contests both state and federal election, although it is yet to elect any representatives. The party aims to represent Christian values.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Science Party (Australia)</span> Australian political party

The Science Party, formerly known as Future Party, is an Australian political party that was established on 2 July 2013. The founding leader, James Jansson, was studying for his Doctorate at the Kirby Institute during the party's formation, with a focus on advancing Australian society through technical and long-term solutions. On 22 March 2016, the name was changed to The Science Party after registering with the Australian Electoral Commission. The Science Party has run candidates for the 2013, 2016 and 2019 federal elections, as well as several by-elections in between.

The Voluntary Euthanasia Party (VEP) was a minor political party in Australia, founded in early 2013 by Corey McCann to advocate for legislative change to allow voluntary euthanasia in Australia. The party's inception was strongly supported by Dr Philip Nitschke, director of Exit International and Richard Mills, then President of Dying with Dignity NSW.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Health Australia Party</span> Political party in Australia

The Health Australia Party (HAP) was a political party in Australia, founded in 2013 as the Natural Medicine Party. It adopted its current name in 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yellow Vest Australia</span> Political party in Australia

Yellow Vest Australia (YVA), until 9 April 2019 known as the Australian Liberty Alliance (ALA), was a minor right-wing to far-right political party in Australia. The party was founded by members of the Q Society and has been described as the political wing of Q Society. The leader was Debbie Robinson (President), who was also national president of the Q Society. On 4 September 2020, the Australian Electoral Commission removed the Yellow Vest Australia from the registered political party list.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flux (political party)</span> Political party in Australia

Flux, also known as Flux the System! and Liberals For Climate - The Flux Network, was a political party and movement that aimed to replace the world's elected legislatures with a new system known as issue-based direct democracy (IBDD). Flux originated in and was most active in Australia, but also had groups existing in the United States and Brazil.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2021 Western Australian state election</span> State general election for Western Australia, held on 13 March 2021

The 2021 Western Australian state election was held on Saturday, March 13, to elect members to the Parliament of Western Australia, where all 59 seats in the Legislative Assembly and all 36 seats in the Legislative Council were up for election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 Cottesloe state by-election</span> Western Australian state by-election

A by-election for the electoral district of Cottesloe in Western Australia took place on 17 March 2018. The by-election was triggered by the resignation of the Liberal Party member, Colin Barnett, on 5 February 2018. Barnett was the Premier of Western Australia from 23 September 2008 until 17 March 2017, when he was succeeded as Premier by Mark McGowan after the Labor Party defeated Barnett's Liberal government at the 2017 state election in March 2017. The by-election was won by the Liberal candidate David Honey.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Australian Federation Party</span> Political party in Australia

The Australian Federation Party (AFP), also known as AusFeds and formerly known as the Country Alliance and the Australian Country Party, is an Australian political party. Founded in 2004 by four rural Victorians, the party lodged its initial registration with the Victorian Electoral Commission on 15 August 2005.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2025 Western Australian state election</span> Upcoming state general election for Western Australia

The 2025 Western Australian state election is scheduled to be held on 8 March 2025 to elect members to the Parliament of Western Australia, where all 59 seats in the Legislative Assembly and all 37 seats in the Legislative Council will be up for election.

Teresa Angela van Lieshout is an Australian far-right conspiracy theorist and perennial candidate. She has contested elections between 2004 and 2019. In 2021, she was arrested for allegedly taking part in a plot to overthrow the government.

References

  1. "Registered Political Parties in WA". Western Australian Electoral Commission . Retrieved 13 February 2017.
  2. Kerslake, David (13 July 2017). "Approval of Change of Name and Abbreviated Name". Letter. Western Australian Electoral Commission.
  3. Western Australia Party (2018), Western Australia Party, Western Australia Party, retrieved 28 November 2022 see also - https://catalogue.slwa.wa.gov.au/record=b5610122~S2, website quote from 2018.. "Formed in 2016, the Western Australia Party is the only party registered with the WA Electoral Commission with the sole purpose of representing the people of WA to get a better deal from Canberra. The formation of the Party is inspired by the original Western Australia Party that operated from 1906 to 1909 to protect the rights of Western Australia, led by Sir John Forrest the first Premier of WA in 1890" -- website (viewed 7 May 2018)
  4. "Notice of deregistration - WESTERN AUSTRALIA PARTY" (PDF). aec.gov.au.
  5. No. 191, Western Australian Government Gazette , 21 October 2016, p. 4787.
  6. "North Metropolitan Region". WA Election 2017. ABC Australia. Retrieved 13 February 2017.
  7. Adshead, Gary (21 October 2017). "Retired judge masterminds new political party to fight federal election over WA's GST share". The West Australian. Retrieved 28 November 2022.
  8. Ron Norris for Cottesloe: Western Australia Party, see https://catalogue.slwa.wa.gov.au/record=b5610110~S2
  9. Laschon, Eliza (25 June 2018). "WA Party plans federal by-election tilt after strong Darling Range GST protest vote result". ABC News.
  10. "Registration of a political party: Western Australia Party" (PDF). Notice under s 133(1A)(a) of the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918. Australian Electoral Commission. 30 August 2018. Retrieved 12 September 2018.
  11. "Charles Smith, former One Nation MP, turned independent, joins new party". Out in Perth. 12 May 2020.
  12. "Mayoral hopeful to 'do more for less rates'". PerthNow. 25 August 2021. Retrieved 2 December 2022.
  13. Thorn, Meleva (5 September 2022). "EXCLUSIVE: Western Australia Party's dual candidates strategy in the North West Central by-election explained". WAMN News . Retrieved 2 December 2022.
  14. "Australian election 2022: from anti-vaxxers to revolutionaries, what do the minor parties running for the Senate stand for?". the Guardian. 18 May 2022. Retrieved 2 December 2022.
  15. "Federal Election 2022: Focusing on the minor parties and their values". 6PR. 9 May 2022. Retrieved 2 December 2022.
  16. Green, Antony (25 November 2019). "Preference Flows at the 2019 Federal Election – Antony Green's Election Blog" . Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  17. "Our Policies". Western Australia Party. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  18. Facebook (content not available)
  19. Facebook (content not available)
  20. Facebook (content not available)