Minor parties including the Liberal Democrats have revolted over proposed new registration requirements that could put up to an estimated 30 political parties in danger of being barred from running at the next election.
The changes, introduced to parliament by the government on Thursday, will require all parties to have 1,500 members and ban them from using words in their names that are already used by existing parties.
The Greens and senators Rex Patrick and Jacqui Lambie have indicated they will oppose the party registration integrity bill but the crossbench fears Labor could be set to wave it through.
At the next federal election the Liberals face challenges on their right flank from the Liberal Democratic party, running a hard anti-lockdown campaign, and on their left, from the socially liberal New Liberals.
Both parties believe the new naming rule, which would require them to get permission from the Liberal Party of Australia to run under their current name, is targeted at them.
Campbell Newman, the Liberal Democrats’ lead Queensland Senate candidate, told Guardian Australia it was “frankly unconscionable” and a “black day for the Liberal party … that they would seek to essentially rig the electoral laws to their own benefit”.
Newman accused the Liberal Party of being “scared”, claiming that hundreds have expressed interest in joining the Liberal Democrats since his candidacy was announced two weeks ago – including many former Liberal members who say the party has “betrayed their values”.
Newman noted the Australian Electoral Commission’s interpretation of the existing law accepts that words such as “labour”, “democrat” and “liberal” are part of the political lexicon and “are not capable of being owned by a particular party”.
“To actually write into legislation that you need permission from your opponent to use a word shows how shabby a tactic this is.”
If the bill is passed, parties would have three months to demonstrate they have 1,500 members.
While many minor parties spoken to by the Guardian including the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers and the Christian Democrats claim to have the required number of members, one minor party, the Australian Progressives, estimated as many as 30 out of 44 parties would be in danger of deregistration.
Two days ago the Old Libs introduced a Bill designed to wipe us out by tripling the membership requirements to 1500. In under 48 hours so many people joined us that we tripled our membership and now have over 2000 members. Sorry to tell you Old Libs, but democracy works. #TNL
— Victor Kline (@victorklineTNL) August 14, 2021
Newman said the Liberal Democrats would have “no problem” clearing the 1,500 member bar but that this was another example of the “protection racket” being run by the “duopoly” of the two major parties.
The New Liberals leader, Vic Kline, has claimed that his fledgling party, which plans to run in every state and up to three dozen Liberal-held lower house seats, has passed the 1,500-member threshold.
Kline told Guardian Australia he had complained about the bill to Labor but the opposition appeared prepared to pass it – but Labor insists no decision has yet been taken.
Patrick said the new 1,500 member requirement was “unreasonable” because it was aimed at making it harder for new players to enter parliament.
“Any bill that makes it harder for smaller parties and independents should be resisted.”
Greens senator Larissa Waters said her party had “some sympathy for ensuring that parties don’t impersonate other parties” but in context with the other changes it was clear the government wanted “to prevent legitimate and democratic challenges” to their power.
In a statement, Lambie called on Labor to decide where it stands on the “power grab”.
Labor was consulted before the bill was introduced but is yet to say how it will vote. A spokesman for Don Farrell, Labor’s shadow special minister of state, said Labor “will always deal with electoral reform in a consultative and bipartisan manner”.
“Labor will consider any draft electoral legislation carefully, to protect our strong democratic system.”
Even those with the required numbers, opposed the membership changes, both on principle and due to practical difficulties demonstrating membership.
Former Australian Democrats senator and current party president, Lyn Allison, said the changes were “grossly unfair” and designed to “diminish competition”.
While “reasonably confident” the party could pass the 1,500 threshold, Allison said it was “quite a big logistical exercise to comply”.
AEC audits of party lists could leave them vulnerable to deregistration due to spelling discrepancies with the electoral roll, or forgetful members who forget they had joined, she said.
A spokesman for the Shooters Fishers and Farmers Party said the 1,500 member threshold is “a bridge too far” and “a way to stop minor parties from being registered and having a say in politics”.
Annie Wright, the NSW director of the Christian Democratic Party, said the amendments were “a means by which to wipe out minor parties”.
“This is not good for our democracy and for community engagement in politics,” she said. “We view this as the two major parties consolidating their power duopoly.”
Australian Progressives national president, Therese Faulkner, said major parties were behaving like a “cartel” by proposing “limitations on voters’ ability to select the minor party that would best represent their interest”.
The assistant minister for electoral matters, Ben Morton, has justified the bill by arguing parties must have a “genuine base of community support” to contest elections and naming rules will reduce “voter confusion”.
