Information on objecting to an application for party registration

Applications for registration

Part XI of the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 (Electoral Act) deals with the registration of political parties. The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) maintains a Register of Political Parties (the Register) which includes all registered political party names, abbreviations and logos that can be printed on ballot papers at elections for the Senate and House of Representatives.

An application to register a new political party can be lodged, and a registered political party can apply to change the party’s details held in the Register. The AEC will assess each application and associated documents against the requirements outlined in the Electoral Act or AEC policy.

When the Electoral Commission considers that the party’s application should not be refused under the Electoral Act, it must advertise the application in accordance with section 132 of the Electoral Act. This is advertised on the AEC website and in newspapers circulating generally in each State and Territory. The advertisement will give any person or organisation an opportunity to object to the registration of the party.

Grounds for objections to applications for registration

The grounds for lodging an objection to a party registration application (new party registration or a change to the Register) are outlined under section 132 of the Electoral Act.

Objections are considered only on the following grounds:

• that the application does not relate to an eligible political party (as defined in section 4 and section 123 of the Electoral Act)
• that the application does not accord with all the requirements set out under the Electoral Act (as outlined in section 126 of the Electoral Act)
• that the name or abbreviation of the party is prohibited under section 129 of the Electoral Act
• that the logo is prohibited under section 129A of the Electoral Act.

If an objection under the grounds set out above is lodged, the AEC will forward it to the registered officer of the party so that the party can respond to the objection.

Method of lodging an objection

An objection must be:

• in writing
• signed by the objector
• specify a street address for that objector (it cannot be a post office box address)
• include the grounds under the Electoral Act that the objector considers that the application should be refused
• received by the AEC before the end of the time specified in the notice. (The advertisements provide a period of one month in which any person or organisation can lodge an objection.)

Objections can be sent to:

Email	Post
fad@aec.gov.au	Funding and Disclosure Australian Electoral Commission Locked Bag 4007 Canberra ACT 2601

Processing of objections

Objections are only considered if they meet the grounds set out under section 132 of the Electoral Act.

The Electoral Commission will forward objections to the applicant political party to give it an opportunity to respond. Objections, as well as any response to an objection provided by the applicant political party, will be published on the AEC website. Please note that personal details provided in an objection or a response to an objection will be redacted by the AEC prior to being published on the AEC website for privacy reasons.

A delegate of the Electoral Commission will consider all relevant material and determine if the application will be approved or refused. Both objectors and the applicant party will be notified of the delegate’s decision and of their review rights should they be dissatisfied with the decision.

Decisions of a delegate of the Electoral Commission to approve or refuse registration or a change to the Register are published on the AEC website and are a reviewable decision under Part X the Electoral Act.

Grounds for objecting to the continued registration of a name, abbreviation or logo

The registered officer of an earlier registered party may submit an objection to the continued registration of a second party’s name, abbreviation or logo on specific grounds.

• The Guide for maintaining party registration contains further details.

Further information

• Similarity to names, abbreviations or logos of currently registered parties
• Guide for registering a party
• Political Party Registration
• Current party applications and notices