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Origins: The present Liberal Party developed from an alliance of various free enterprise parties and was formally established in 1944 by Robert Menzies. It has a record of governing many times in most States and in Federal Parliament.
Interests Represented: Robert Menzies founded the Liberal Party to represent what he called 'the forgotten people'- the office workers, shopkeepers and small business owners who supported themselves and their families with what they earned and who did not look to governments for assistance. Today, the membership is drawn from a broad cross-section of the community and financial support is provided by party branches, professional and business people and business enterprises. Strongest electoral support comes from metropolitan residential suburbs and districts with high levels of income and property ownership. In more recent years the Liberal Party has successfully attracted broader support from a non-traditional constituency: wage earners in blue-collar occupations with more conservative views about society.
Values: The Liberal Party of Australia promotes 'free enterprise' and individual liberty: the idea that businesses and individuals should be free to pursue their interests and develop wealth with limited government controls to ensure fair dealing. It argues that the greatest benefits will flow to all citizens if governments encourage business, restrict intervention, and keep services limited to helping those in the community with most need whilst still encouraging self-reliance.
In the Parliaments: The Liberal Party is represented in most State and Territory Parliaments as well as the Federal Parliament. The Party has formed government in all these parliaments since its foundation, but usually with the support of a coalition party such as the National Party.
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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