Liberal Democratic Party (Australia)

Liberal Democratic Party
Leader	Peter Whelan
Founded	2001
Headquarters	PO Box 773 Dickson ACT 2602
Ideology	Libertarianism, Classical liberalism
International affiliation	Interlibertarians
Website
www.ldp.org.au
Politics of Australia Political parties Elections

The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) is a classical liberal and libertarian Australian political party founded in 2001.

Party name

In 2007, the party tried to register federally under the name "Liberal Democratic Party" but this was opposed the by the Liberal Party of Australia, so the party chose to register as the "Liberty and Democracy Party". However in 2008 the party successfully applied to the Australian Electoral Commission to change its federally registered name to "Liberal Democratic Party". During this episode, the party remained registered under its original name in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT).

Philosophy

The party generally adheres to libertarian and classical liberal principles, with a low tax laissez-faire approach to economics and a high regard for individual freedom and responsibility. Prior to the 2012 Port Adelaide by-election in South Australia, where a poll in the local News Ltd newspaper gave the LDP a historical 14 percent of the vote in the absence of a Liberal Party of Australia candidate, the newspaper described the LDP as a "hardline libertarian party that demands abolition of government welfare as well as the minimum wage, seatbelts and bike helmets. It backs legalisation of marijuana and increased freedom to access pornography."

Policies

LDP policies include the following:

• Legalisation of euthanasia and assisted suicide;
• Significantly reduced tax rates and government spending;
• Abolition of coercive psychiatry;
• Relegalisation of marijuana;
• Support of shooters' rights;
• Support of voluntary voting;
• Support of free migration agreements with more nations (as already exists between Australia and New Zealand);
• A general immigration tariff on immigrants from other nations to replace the existing quota system;
• Opposition to corporate welfare;
• Support of competitive federalism and political decentralisation;
• Support of free trade;
• Support of gay marriage;
• Allowing property owners' rights with regards to all matters including smoking.

History

• 2001:
  • Liberal Democratic Party founded by John Humphreys.
  • Contests the 2001 ACT election, receiving one percent of the vote.
• 2004:
  • Contests the 2004 ACT election, receiving 1.3 percent of the vote.
• 2005:
  • David McAlary becomes party president.
• 2007:
  • Holds first national conference.
  • Registers federally, changing its name to "Liberty and Democracy Party" to meet electoral commission requirements.
  • Contests 2007 federal election, winning 17,048 votes (0.14 percent) in the lower house, and 16,942 votes (0.13 percent} in the upper house.
• 2008:
  • Peter Whelan elected party president.
  • Contests 2008 Gippsland by-election, winning 4.2 percent of the vote.
  • Contests the seat of Molonglo in the 2008 ACT election, winning 0.9% of the vote.
  • Applies successfully to the AEC to change its federally registered name to "Liberal Democratic Party".
• 2009:
  • Contests the 2009 Higgins and Bradfield by-elections, winning 0.5% and 0.8% of the vote respectively.
• 2010:
  • Contests 2010 federal election, receiving 1.81 percent of the senate vote (over 230,000 votes).
• 2011:
  • Registered in South Australia.

External links

• Liberal Democratic Party official website
• LDP history - according to party
• LDP history - according to founder