Craig Kelly (Hughes, Independent) Share this | Hansard source

by leave—I move my amendments (1) to (6) together:

(1) Schedule 1, item 1, page 3 (line 6), omit "1,500", substitute "1,000".

(2) Schedule 1, item 2, page 3 (line 10), omit "1,500", substitute "1,000".

(3) Schedule 1, item 2, page 3 (line 12), omit "1,500", substitute "1,000".

(4) Schedule 1, item 3, page 3 (line 24), omit "1,500", substitute "1,000".

(5) Schedule 1, item 18, page 7 (line 9), omit "1,500", substitute "1,000".

(6) Schedule 1, item 19, page 7 (line 12), omit "1,500", substitute "1,000".

What the Electoral Legislation Amendment (Party Registration Integrity) Bill seeks to do is to move the threshold slightly back, to move the dial back, to give more Australians the opportunity to participate in our democracy. This bill lifts the threshold for party registration from 500 members to 1,500. That risks concentrating the power in the hands of the Liberal Party and the Labor Party. That is contrary to a good democracy. I've experienced it myself here. Since coming to the crossbench, I've had the opportunity to discuss issues with the members for Indi and Warringah, with whom I have many differing views. I believe that being able to sit down and discuss things strengthens our democracy. We should not be doing anything in this parliament that limits alternative views or limits what may be minority views; therefore, the amendments that I propose are to move that dial from 1,500 to only 1,000. I believe that if a group of a thousand Australian citizens are prepared to form a political party they should be allowed to do so and they should be allowed to stand at an election under that party. This is what these amendments will do, and I hope they have the support of other members of the House.

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