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Origins: The Australian Greens was formed as a national political party in 1992 by a group of independent Greens Parties from the States. Separate Greens parties had been active in most States since the 1980s.
Interests represented: The Australian Greens seeks broad membership and participation to support its ecological and social justice objectives. While it is a 'conservationist party' opposed to powerful vested interest groups, the party has policies on a wide range of concerns such as wealth distribution, participatory democracy, economic development and multiculturalism. It attracts votes from those who are disaffected with mainstream parties, younger voters and individuals responding to the immediate environmental issues at the time of any particular election.
Values: The policies of the Australian Greens focus on global as well as national issues. The party seeks to build an ecologically sustainable and socially just society. It uses election contests as well as direct action and community initiatives to cultivate global environmental awareness and to promote its wider aims to eradicate poverty, oppression and discrimination.
In the Parliaments: As a young minor party the Australian Greens have had limited representation in Federal Parliaments. It has been successful in attaining Senate seats from time to time. On the State level it has had most success in Tasmania where, at times, the party has managed to secure the balance of power.
Political Parties in Australia
Political parties have become an essential part of Australia's parliamentary democracy. In Australia, governments work from a 'party system'. This means that the party or the coalition of parties with the largest number of elected members in parliament usually forms the government of the day.
Political parties are formed by groups of people with common interests and outlook who come together with the aim of either forming government or strengthening their influence on government. Each party creates policies that will achieve its aims and then presents candidates for election to parliament. If a party's policies are attractive to enough voters they will achieve a majority of members in the parliament and then form the government. As the government they can then put their ideas into action. The party with the second largest number of members usually forms the official 'opposition'. Parties with only a few seats in parliament are referred to as 'minor parties'. Individual citizens who are not members of a party may also be elected to parliament and they become known as 'independents'. Independents and minor parties can have considerable influence on what a government can do but it is the party or coalition of parties with the majority of seats which forms government.
Parties vary in their size and ways of organising as well as in their policies. Some parties operate both nationally and in each of the States. Others operate only at a State level. Also, as society and issues change, so do the parties. They can change their policies, their support base, their organisation – and sometimes, their name! Some parties have a very short life span while others seem able to maintain themselves as long-term players on the political stage.
Currently there are 70 political parties registered with the Australian Electoral Commission. The parties described here are the main parties currently operating in Australian parliaments.
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