Fears that more than 150 candidates might register for the re-run of WA’s senate election have not come true with just 77 candidates names appearing on the ballot for the April 5th poll.
The election is being re-run after the Australian Electoral Commission lost 1370 selection papers in the 2013 election. The loss of the paperwork meant that a recount could not be completed which lead to the result being declared invalid.
Amongst the 77 candidates are two candidates for The Nationals, Shane Van Styn and Colin De Grussa and filmmaker Tibor Meszaros and Lucy Nicol are standing for Wikileaks. Broadcaster’s Verity James and Russell Woolf are running in order to protect the ABC, Gosnell’s Councilman Chris Fernandez is running for the Australian Democrats, as is William Thiel.
Labor’s incumbent Senator Louise Pratt will be fighting another round to keep her place in the senate after her party pushed her back to the number two slot on their ticket behind union man Joe Bullock. Shane Hill and Klara Andric are also on Laor’s ticket.
The Green’s Scott Ludlum will be hoping his increased media exposure will help him keep his place in the parliament too. Also running for The Greens will be Christine Cunningham, Ian James, Jordan Steele-John, Sarah Nielsen-Harvey and Judith Cullity.
David Johnston, Michaelia Cash, Linda Reynolds and Slade Blockman are lined up for the Liberals.
The Palmer United Party and Australian Sports Party will both be hoping they can squeeze into winning positions again.
Also on the field are candidates for The Pirate Party, The Australian Motoring Enthusiasts Party, the Freedom and Prosperity Party, The Voluntary Euthanasia Party – lead by Dr Philliup Nitschke, the Liberal Democrats, the Australian Voice party, the Building Australia Party, Australian Voice, the Mutual Party, Family First, the Sustainable Population Party, the Shooters and Fishers, the Help End Marijuana Prohibition, The Republican Party of Australia, the Smoker’s Rights party, the Fishing and Lifestyle party, Australian Christians, Secular Party of Australia, Rise Up Australia party, DLP Democratic Labor Party, Katter’s Australia Party, Animal Justice Party, Sex Party, Outdoor Recreation Party (Stop the Greens), the Sex Party and the Socialist Alliance.
Two independents will also run, Kim Maburak and Teresa Van Lieshout. Van Leishout previously stood for the Palmer United Party in the 2013 election but was dropped by the party before polling day, she then stood for the Australian Protectionist Party.
OIP Staff
