A Political End, and a Beginning

26 June 2008

Today will be an important date in Australian political history.

It is the day that a political party effectively dies.

The Australian Democrats have been a third major force in politics here for 30 years, having had a continuous presence in the parliament since 1978. It was founded by a disgruntled former government minister, Don Chipp, who was upset that the politics of two major parties meant that there was no alternative for voters. So under the banner of Keeping the Bastards Honest, he formed the Democrats, and won instant success. At its peak, the Democrats held the balance of power in the Senate, which meant they had the final choice over whether legislation passed or not.

But the Democrats’ decision to pass the Goods and Services Tax a few years ago meant its political doom, and with the rise of the Greens as an alternative third force, the Democrats failed to attract the votes anymore. Today is the last day that Democrat senators will sit in parliament, their places to be taken by those Greens at the next sitting.

Whether this means the Greens are starting up as a major force across the world is yet to be seen. We’ll find out with more elections.

It’s hard to come back after having lost your influence so comprehensively, and few are prediucting the Democrats will have a big role in politics again. Whatever happens, it is time to remember the rocky 30 years of a party that I think many would agree, did keep the bastards honest.
- Phil