The Australian Electoral Commission has refused to register Queensland Independent MP Bob Katter’s political party. In a major blow to Mr Katter’s dream of creating a new force in Australian politics, the commission ruled the Australia Party name could create confusion with other parties.
“The Australian Electoral Commission accepts the view that the proposed abbreviation is likely to be mistaken with or confused for an already registered name or abbreviation,” it said. The commission made the ruling following a complaint from a Mr David Doe.
The decision is also a blow to the Queensland Party, whose founder, Aidan McLindon, had sought to join forces with Mr Katter’s team. Mr McLindon formally resigned from the Queensland Party on Friday in readiness for joining the Mr Katter’s team.
The shock decision by the electoral commission leaves him in a political no-man’s land and it leaves the Queensland Party without a leader. But Mr McLindon said the decision was a minor setback.
“No doubt the two major political parties will be throwing as many spanners in the works as they can because I believe that a third credible entity in the public arena is not in their interests,” he told AAP.
Full Article: Electoral Commission won’t register Bob Katter’s Australia Party | Courier Mail.