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Australian Electoral Commission
File reference: Reg5399, 12/851–2
A delegate of the Australian Electoral Commission determined that the application by the Bank Reform Party to change its registered name and abbreviation under the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 should be accepted.
On 27 September 2013, the Australian Electoral Commission (the AEC) received an application from the Bank Reform Party (the Party) to change its registered name and abbreviation under the provisions of Part XI of the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 (the Act). The new name sought was 'Mutual Party' and the Party's registered abbreviation was to be changed from 'BRP' to 'Mutual'.
The AEC conducted a series of tests usually undertaken as part of the initial consideration of an application and on 26 November 2013, a delegate of the AEC approved the advertisement of the Party's application.
The legal provisions relevant for an application to change the Register are in s.4 and Part XI of the Act. An extract of the relevant provisions is available. The reader should consult this extract to understand the legal provisions being applied in the tests below.
The application satisfies the requirements in s.134 of the Act, in that it was in writing, signed by three members of the party, stated the applicants' capacities and their street addresses and included the prescribed $500 application fee. The application met all the technical elements required for an application to change a registered party's name and abbreviation.
The Party's constitution specified the Party's name and on 12 November 2013 a delegate of the AEC issued a notice to the Party under s.131 of the Act requesting a change to the Party's constitution to permit the use of the proposed new name and abbreviation. The Party responded to the notice with the required amendments on 23 November 2013.
The name the 'Mutual Party' does not appear to be a name prohibited under s.129(1) of the Act. It is not similar to any other registered or unrelated recognised political party name and does not breach any other provisions of the Act. The amendment to the Party's registered abbreviation simply removed the word 'Party' from the proposed name and therefore was not prohibited.
The application passes the names test.
On 2 December 2013, the Party's application to change the party name and abbreviation was advertised on the AEC website and on 4 December 2013 in newspapers circulating generally in each State and Territory to permit interested persons or organisations to lodge an objection.
The last date by which objections could be received was Thursday 2 January 2014 and no objections were received.
The delegate of the AEC entered the information set out below in the Register.
Notice under section 134(6A)(a)
On 21 February 2014, as a delegate of the Australian Electoral Commission for the purposes of Part XI of the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918, I amended the Register of Political Parties as set out below.
Previous Name of party: Bank Reform Party
New Name of party: Mutual Party
Previous Abbreviation of party name: BRP
New abbreviation of party name: Mutual
(signed)
Brad Edgman
Delegate of the Australian Electoral Commission
The AEC acknowledges the Traditional Owners of country throughout Australia and recognises their continuing connection to land, waters, culture and community. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging.