Vern Hughes

Vern Hughes (born 12 December 1957) is a writer and social commentator. In 2000, he was the co-founder, with Stephen Mayne, of the People Power Party, which was founded in December 2000. Early 2001 was marked by the party's public announcements flagging its intention to campaign for positions in no less than 7 arenas [http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/20944/20010713/www.peoplepower.org.au/index.html] , ranging from the Aston by-election, Melbourne City Council (where Hughes stood as Deputy Lord Mayor) and the ACT Assembly elections, to tilts at the boards of the RACV, Carlton FC and a credit union [http://some-people-power.blogspot.com/] .

Following poor results, the party's activities were suspended, but the party again found sufficient common ground to re-form and initiate their campaign for the Victorian state election in 2005, with the help of Communications Consultant, Robyn Allcock.

Hughes' part in building the party, writing policy and enrolling candidates for all (upper & lower houses) seats for the 25 November 2006 Victorian state election [http://www.vec.vic.gov.au/State2006resultbypartydistrict.html] was a key factor in the party's success in the campaign's early stages, and most media attention was favourable, as People Power received more column-inches in mainstream media than the Democrats, & certainly more than other minor parties [http://www.abc.net.au/stateline/vic/content/2006/s1731064.htm] .

Following these early successes, the campaign's 'lead candidate', ex-Socceroo Jack Reilly (recruited by Stephen Mayne) resigned in September, and Mayne himself followed Reilly in October (alleging 'tensions within the party') [http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,20607702-661,00.html] . Mayne then re-joined, but Hughes accused Mayne of trivialising the campaign. People Power's Board eventually moved to expel Mayne from the Party.

For an authorised version of their history, see the NLA archived version of their website as it was in July 2006. [http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/60991/20060725/www.peoplepower.org.au/History.html]

Following Hughes' own departure from the Party, People Power's Board was taken over by a group of unsuccessful former candidates led by (failed Liberal pre-selection candidate and former mayor of Portland) Mike Noske, who subsequently failed to maintain the support of members Hughes had recruited. It was de-registered soon after.

In August 2007 it was announced that Vern would stand for the seat of Williamstown for the Democratic Labor Party.

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