The latest additions to the ACT party register are the Liberal Democratic Party and the Gungahlin Equality Party.

The ACT Electoral Commissioner, Phil Green, announced today that applications for registration by these parties had been successful and that they had been entered in the ACT party register.

Two objections had been received to the registration of the Liberal Democratic Party. These objections from the Liberal Party of Australia (ACT Division) and the Australian Democrats argued that the name of the Liberal Democratic Party would be confused with the names of their parties. Mr Green decided that the name Liberal Democratic Party would not confuse voters. A detailed statement of reasons for this decision is available from this site.

A further two political parties – the Canberra First Party and the Australian Human Rights Party – have applied for registration for the ACT Legislative Assembly election to be held on 20 October 2001. Their applications are currently under consideration. The party register closes on 13 September.

Phillip Green
Electoral Commissioner