Cover image for The Australian Democrats
Agency:
The Australian Democrats
Agency Number:
Start Date:
01 Apr 1977
Description:
The Australian Democrats was formed in 1977 through a merger of the Australia Party and the New Liberal Movement with former Liberal minister Don Chipp as leader. The Party was based on direct democracy through postal ballots of all members in order to minimise any hierarchical structure. Members' participation was vigorously protected in national and divisional constitutions, internal elections, regular meeting protocols, conferences and monthly journals for open discussion and balloting.;;;;The Tasmanian Division of the Party has had two candidates elected to State or Federal parliament. Norm Sanders was the Member for Denison from 1980 to 1982 before moving to the Federal sphere, serving as a Tasmanian Senator from 1985 to 1990. The other is Robert Bell who was a Senator from 1990 to 1996.
Information Sources:
'The Third Man' (Chipp & Larkin 1978) and The Australian Democrats website.
Functions Performed:
Government and politics
Arnold Rowlands (NG2167)17 Apr 192501 Oct 2009
Series Created By Agency:
NS2744 Constitution of the Braddon Electoral Branch01 Oct 198231 Oct 1982