New Democrats (Victoria) Explained

New Democrats
Colorcode:
  1. e0148f
Split:Victorian Labor Party
Membership Year:2022
Membership: 2,000[1] [2]
Ideology:Anti-dictatorship[3]
Seats1 Title:Legislative Assembly
Seats2 Title:Legislative Council
Country:Australia

The New Democrats (ND), also known as the New Democrats Party (NDP), is an Australian political party founded in 2022 by then-Victorian MLC Kaushaliya Vaghela.[3] [4]

History

Background

On 9 February 2022, Vaghela (then a member of the Labor Party) crossed the floor in support of Adem Somyurek's motion to refer the Andrews government to the Victorian Ombudsman in relation to the alleged misuse of taxpayer funds, involving the diversion of parliamentary staffing resources to political campaigning and party factional activities prior to the 2014 Victorian state election.[5]

In March 2022, Vaghela resigned from Labor to sit as an independent, making serious allegations of bullying against the party. Her criticisms were aired after she had been left off the Labor ticket for the 2022 state election, following an investigation by the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC) into the conduct of her husband, Dinesh Chauhan, and staff members.[6]

Formation and 2022 election

On 11 August 2022, Vaghela formed the New Democrats and applied for registration with the Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC).[7] [8] The party was registered on 6 October 2022, 51 days before the state election.[9] [10]

At the election, Vaghela was unsuccessful in her bid to be re-elected to the Western Metropolitan Region, receiving 0.55% of the vote.[11] The party received a total statewide vote of 0.13% in the Legislative Assembly and 0.21% in the Legislative Council (the lowest statewide total for any registered party in the Legislative Council).[12] [13]

Notes and References

  1. News: 7 October 2022 . Indian-origin Victorian State MP Kaushaliya Vaghela announces new political party . NRI Affairs . 17 October 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221017003308/https://www.nriaffairs.com/kaushaliya-vaghela-new-democrats-victoria/ . live .
  2. Web site: NEW DEMOCRATS (ND) . Twitter . Kaushaliya Vaghela . 16 July 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240716040940/https://archive.md/lnDFD . 16 July 2024 . 6 October 2022 . With overwhelming support of around 2000 members, the New Democratic Party is registered today..
  3. Web site: New Democrats Policies . New Democrats . 9 July 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240317133043/https://www.newdemocrats.com.au/new-democrats-policies/ . 17 March 2024.
  4. News: 6 October 2022 . Kaushaliya Vaghela to lead 'New Democrats' party . South Asia Times . 3 November 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221103101912/https://www.southasiatimes.com.au/australia/kaushaliya-vaghela-to-lead-new-democrats-party/ . live .
  5. News: Ilanbey . Sumeyya . 2022-02-09 . Labor MP crosses floor to back fresh investigation into red shirts scandal . 2022-02-09 . The Age . en.
  6. Web site: 2022-03-07. Victorian MP Kaushaliya Vaghela quits Labor after alleging systemic bullying. 2022-03-07. ABC News. en.
  7. News: Kolovos . Benita . 11 August 2022 . Angry Victorians join a rush of new micro-parties eyeing a seat in the state's parliament . . 3 November 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221103101929/https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/aug/11/angry-victorians-join-a-rush-of-new-micro-parties-eyeing-a-seat-in-the-states-parliament . live .
  8. Web site: Application for registration by the New Democrats . Victorian Electoral Commission . 28 September 2022 . 11 August 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220928070253/https://www.vec.vic.gov.au/about-us/media/state-election-media-releases/application-for-registration-by-the-new-democrats . 2022-09-28 .
  9. Web site: Registration of New Democrats . 6 October 2022 . vec.vic.gov.au . Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC) . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20221025114350/https://www.vec.vic.gov.au/about-us/media/state-election-media-releases/registration-of-new-democrats . 25 October 2022 .
  10. Web site: Currently registered parties . vec.vic.gov.au . Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC) . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20221031061610/https://www.vec.vic.gov.au/candidates-and-parties/registered-political-parties/currently-registered-parties . 31 October 2022 .
  11. Web site: Western Metropolitan Region results . 2022-12-27 . www.vec.vic.gov.au . en.
  12. Web site: State Election 2022 results. Victorian Electoral Commission. 10 December 2022. 10 December 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221210093743/https://www.vec.vic.gov.au/results/2022-state-election-results/results-summary/lower-house-overall-results. live.
  13. Web site: Legislative Council Results - VIC Election 2022 . 2022-11-27 . abc.net.au . en-AU . 27 November 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221127120147/https://www.abc.net.au/news/elections/vic/2022/guide/lc-results-index . live .

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