Who are the minor parties in Victoria’s upper house election? - The Age

Ever heard of the Companions and Pets Party? The Health Australia Party? Or even the New Democrats? You may need to soon.

A leaked video of so-called “preference whisperer” Glenn Druery has again highlighted Victoria’s party-led group voting system means unknown minor parties could have a big say in Victoria’s upper house, the Legislative Council, for the next four years. As the government is likely to be forced to rely on an upper house crossbench, this may give them a significant say in legislation.

Lee Jones, Family First; Kaushaliya Vaghela, New Democrats; Chris Burson, Angry Victorians Party; and Geoff Shaw, United Australia Party.

So who are these unknown candidates? And what do they stand for?

The Age has complied a cheat sheet of all the minor parties running across Victoria’s eight upper house districts.

Family First

The socially conservative party was reborn last year and former Australian Christian Lobby boss Lyle Shelton – a leading voice for the “No” campaign in the 2016 same-sex marriage plebiscite – is its national director. Lee Jones, who is running in the South-Eastern Metropolitan region, is its lead candidate. It wants to repeal laws introduced by the Andrews government to ban gay conversion therapy, is concerned about gender transitions for children, and wants greater religious freedom.

Derryn Hinch’s Justice Party

After putting three members into Victoria’s upper house at the last state poll (one was quickly disendorsed after threatening to quit following an unsuccessful leadership bid and sat as an independent), Derryn Hinch’s Justice Party is again contesting the election. This time, the former shock jock the party is named after is running in the Southern Metropolitan region. The party advocates for stricter bail, parole and sentencing and Hinch has also called for the state’s anti-corruption watchdog to be given greater powers.

If successful, Derryn Hinch, 78, will become the oldest member elected to the Victorian parliament.Credit:Wayne Taylor

The party’s election platform includes an aim to ban Victorian duck shooting, end greyhound racing and establish an animal crime division within Victoria Police.

Animal Justice Party MP Andy Meddick.Credit:Eddie Jim

Shooters, Fishers & Farmers

As suggested by the title, the Shooters, Fishers & Farmers party says in its Victorian policy document that it aims to “fight the animal rights agenda in Parliament”.

It opposes a ban on duck hunting and wants to improve regional infrastructure. Jeff Bourman has represented the Eastern Victoria district since 2014 under the party’s banner.

Fiona Patten’s Reason Party

Patten, the party’s leader, has been an upper house MP since 2014 and has been one of Victoria’s leading social reformers, championing the state’s safe-injecting room, voluntary assisted dying laws, safe access zones around abortion clinics and decriminalising sex work. The party also advocates for other progressive causes, such as greater emission reduction targets.

Reason Party leader Fiona Patten.Credit:Justin McManus

Sack Dan Andrews Restore Democracy

The party’s website says it “intends to do what it says on the tin”. In a leaked video, “preference whisperer” Druery said this party was “one of [his]” and was created to draw anti-Andrews government voters so he could direct their preference flows to other minor candidates he was working with to get elected.

Legalise Cannabis Victoria

As it says in the name, this single-issue party wants to legalise cannabis for recreational use in Victoria.

Pauline Hanson’s One Nation

Another party that has centred its campaign on opposition to Andrews. One Nation’s Eastern Victoria candidate Warren Pickering said in a statement the party wants greater government transparency, a royal commission into the state’s COVID-19 response and more fossil fuel reserves utilised for energy.

Unnamed - 1

This grouping, which only appears in the Western Metropolitan region, is a combination of independents who have teamed up to be able to gain a more electable spot above the line on the upper house ticket. Lead candidate Walter Villagonzalo is a former deputy mayor of Wyndham City Council and his campaign website emphasises developing Melbourne’s western suburbs.

Unnamed - 2

Fred Ackerman is the lead candidate for the similar independent grouping, which also only appears in the Western Metropolitan region. Ackerman, previously a long-time Liberal member, lost preselection for the major party’s upper house ticket in the region to Moria Deeming, who opposes abortion and trans rights.

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2022-11-20 04:23:27Z
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