Australian Equality Party (Marriage) Explained

Party Name:Australian Equality Party (Marriage)
Party Logo:Australian Equality Party logo.png
Leader:Jason Tuazon-McCheyne
Convenor:Jason Tuazon-McCheyne
Foundation:9 October 2014
Disbanded:26 March 2018
Headquarters:Melbourne, Victoria
Ideology:LGBT rights

The Australian Equality Party (Marriage) (also AEP; formerly Australian Equality Party) was an Australian political party founded by Jason Tuazon-McCheyne. The AEP had a platform that promoted equality and human rights, particularly in relation to the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer (GLBTIQ) community.[1] [2] [3] The party's goal was to get AEP Leader, Jason Tuazon-McCheyne, elected to the Senate at the 2016 Australian federal election.[4] The party was deregistered voluntarily on 26 March 2018.[5]

History

The Australian Equality Party was launched on 2 February 2014 by Jason Tuazon-McCheyne and his team at Melbourne's LGBTIQ Pride March in St Kilda.[6] [7] At that time the AEP released its first suite of policies relating to LGBTIQ people at the parade,[8] [9] including marriage equality, health and wellbeing issues for LGBTIQ people and reform for laws regarding LGBTIQ people's rights to adoption.

The AEP was registered with the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) on 9 October 2014.[10] The Convenor of the AEP is Jason Tuazon-McCheyne.[11] On 27 January 2016, the AEC approved a name change to append the word "Marriage" to the party's official name.[12]

In 2014 the AEP was only active in Victoria, focusing on gathering support for its campaign to elect its leader Jason Tuazon-McCheyne as a Senator for the state of Victoria at the 2016 federal election.[13] [14]

In the 2016 federal election AEP fielded two senate candidates in each of Queensland, South Australia and Victoria, and three candidates in Victoria for the House of Representatives.[15] None of these candidates were elected. The party received 0.87%, 0.38% and 0.49% of first preference votes in the three states it contested for Senate seats[16] and 1.59% of first preference votes in its highest-polling House seat, Melbourne Ports.[17]

Leadership

The leader of the AEP is Jason Tuazon-McCheyne, who works as a civil celebrant in the state of Victoria.[18] Tuazon-McCheyne is married to his husband Adrian. They have a son and live in Melbourne's north west.

Deputy Leader Jacqueline Tomlins[19] is a writer, campaigner and activist and has been involved in a variety of LGBTIQ related campaigns, particularly around marriage equality and a legal challenge in the High Court of Australia to a ban on recognition of overseas same-sex marriages in Australia.[20]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Brunswick West dads launch Australian Equality Party in fight against homophobia . Emma Hastings . Moreland Leader . 3 March 2014 .
  2. http://www.3wnews.org/article/news/new-political-party-calls-members_341 "New Political Party Calls for Members"
  3. Web site: Jason Tuazon-McCheyne Launches Equality Party. The Age. 2 February 2014 . Fairfax Media. 8 February 2015.
  4. Web site: Australian Equality Party . 23 March 2016.
  5. Web site: Australian Equality Party (Marriage) Voluntary Deregistration . Notice under s 135(1) of the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 The Australian Equality Party (Marriage) was registered on 9 October 2014 and deregistered on 26 March 2018. Reason: s 135(1) – voluntary deregistration. . 26 March 2018 . 27 March 2018 . Australian Electoral Commission.
  6. http://www.starobserver.com.au/news/local-news/victoria-news/pride-march-a-scorching-success/117554 "Melbourne’s Pride March a scorching success"
  7. Web site: Magnusson . Michael . Australian Equality Party launches with Pride . Gay News Network . 31 January 2014.
  8. Web site: Findlay . James . AEP Launches Policy . Gay News Network .
  9. News: Premier Leads 20th Anniversary Pride March as Community out in Force" ]. Star Observer . Benjamin Riley . 2 February 2015 . 23 March 2016.
  10. Web site: Australian Equality Party (Marriage) . . 27 January 2016 . 23 March 2016.
  11. http://www.smh.com.au/national/jason-tuazonmccheyne-launches-australian-equality-party-20140202-31v5c.html "Jason Tuazon-McCheyne launches Australian Equality Party"
  12. http://www.aec.gov.au/Parties_and_Representatives/Party_Registration/Registered_parties/aust-equality.htm Australian Equality Party (Marriage)
  13. Web site: Tomlins . Jacqui. Introducing the Australian Equality Party . Jacqui Tomlins Blog . 3 February 2014 . 23 March 2016.
  14. Web site: Akersten. Matt. New political party focuses on LGBTI equality. Same Same. 31 January 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140209205646/http://www.samesame.com.au/news/10513/New-political-party-focuses-on-LGBTI-equality. 9 February 2014. dead.
  15. Web site: Candidates for the 2016 federal election . 12 June 2016 . 12 June 2016 . Australian Electoral Commission.
  16. Web site: Senate Results . AEC Tally Room . . 9 August 2016 . 31 August 2016 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160803074259/http://vtr.aec.gov.au/SenateResultsMenu-20499.htm . 3 August 2016 .
  17. Web site: Melbourne Ports, VIC . 28 July 2016 . AEC Tally Room . . 31 August 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160905204829/http://vtr.aec.gov.au/HouseDivisionPage-20499-230.htm . 5 September 2016 . dead . dmy-all .
  18. Web site: Jason Tuazon-McCheyne Launches AEP. The Age. 2 February 2014 . Fairfax Media. 8 February 2015.
  19. http://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/inner-east/boroondara-residents-help-launch-the-equality-party-to-stand-up-for-gay-rights/story-fngnvlpt-1226829566426 "Boroondara residents help launch the Equality Party to stand up for gay rights"
  20. Web site: Australian Equality Party Pushes for Federal Seat. www.heraldsun.com.au. Herald Weekly Times. 8 February 2015.