Liberty and Democracy Party

Infobox_Australian_Political_Party
party_name = Liberty & Democracy Party
party_
party_wikicolourid = Liberty and Democracy
leader = Peter Whelan
foundation = 2001
ideology = Libertarianism,
Classical liberalism
headquarters = PO Box 773
Dickson ACT 2602
holds_government = Nowhere
website = [http://www.ldp.org.au/ www.ldp.org.au]
international = No affiliationThe Liberty & Democracy Party (LDP) is a moderate libertarian or classical liberal Australian political party founded in 2001.

The party was formerly known as the Liberal Democratic Party but changed its name in 2007 to avoid legal action being taken by the Liberal Party on account of the perceived similarity in names. [cite web|title=The official blog of the “Liberty & Democracy Party”|publisher=Liberty & Democracy Party|url=http://ldpblog.wordpress.com/2007/07/31/liberty-democracy-party/|date=2007-07-31|accessdate=2007-11-24] However, the party is still registered under its former name in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT). [cite web|title=Register of political parties|publisher=ACT Electoral Commission|url=http://www.elections.act.gov.au/partyreg.html#register|date=2007-10-15|accessdate=2007-11-24]

The party has contested the last two ACT elections receiving 1% (2001) and 1.3% (2004) of the vote.

The LDP contested their first federal election in November 2007, with 47 Lower House candidates and Senate candidates in all states as well as the ACT. [cite web|title=LDP Candidates 2007|publisher=Liberty & Democracy Party|url=http://ldp.org.au/Candidates.html|accessdate=2007-11-24] It secured 0.13% of the vote in the Senate (just under 17,000 votes) and 0.14% of the vote in the House of Representatives (just over 17,000 votes).

The LDP ran a candidate in the 2008 Gippsland by-election, receiving over 4 percent of the vote -- their best performance to date. [ [http://vtr.aec.gov.au/HouseDivisionFirstPrefs-13813-213.htm House of Representatives Division First Preferences ] ]

Philosophy

The party generally adheres to libertarian and classical liberal principles, with a low tax laissez-faire approach to economics and a high regard for individual freedom and responsibility. [cite web|title=Liberty & Democracy Party Principles|publisher=Liberty & Democracy Party|url=http://ldp.org.au/principles.html|accessdate=2007-11-24]

Policies

LDP policies include: [cite web|title=LDP Federal Policies|publisher=Liberty & Democracy Party|url=http://ldp.org.au/federal/policies/index.html|accessdate=2007-11-24]
* Legalisation of euthanasia and assisted suicide;
* Significantly reduced tax rates and government spending;
* Re-legalisation of marijuana;
* Support of shooters' rights;
* Support of voluntary voting;
* Support for a general immigration tariff as well as selective Free migration agreements.
* Opposition to corporate welfare;
* Support of competitive federalism and political decentralisation;
* Support of free trade;
* Support of gay marriage; and
* Support of property owners' rights with regards to all matters including smoking.

History

* 2001: Liberal Democratic Party founded by John Humphreys.
* 2001: Contests the 2001 ACT election, receiving 1% of the vote. [cite web|title=2001 Election - First Preference Results|publisher=ACT Electoral Commission|url=http://www.elections.act.gov.au/ResSum01.htm|date=2005-03-08|accessdate=2007-11-24]
* 2004: Contests the 2004 ACT election, receiving 1.3% of the vote. [cite web|title=2004 Election - First Preference Results|publisher=ACT Electoral Commission|url=http://www.elections.act.gov.au/ResSum04.html|date=2005-02-01|accessdate=2007-11-24]
* 2005: David McAlary becomes party president.
* 2007: Holds first national conference. [cite web|title=Delegates at the first Annual LDP Conference|publisher=Liberty & Democracy Party|url=http://www.ldp.org.au/news/20070110conference.html|accessdate=2007-11-24]
* 2007: Registers federally, changing its name to "Liberty and Democracy Party" to meet electoral commission requirements. [cite web|title=Party Registration decision: Liberty and Democracy Party|publisher=Australian Electoral Commission|url=http://www.aec.gov.au/Parties_and_Representatives/Party_Registration/Registration_Decisions/ldp.htm|date=2007-10-03|accessdate=2007-11-24] [cite web|title=catallaxy|publisher=Jason Soon|url=http://catallaxyfiles.com/?p=3039|date=2007-08-01|accessdate=2007-11-24]
* 2007: Contests 2007 federal election. Receives about 17,000 votes.
* 2008: Peter Whelan becomes party president.
* 2008: Contests 2008 Gippsland by-election, winning 4.2% of the vote.

References

External links

* [http://www.ldp.org.au/ Liberty and Democracy Party] official website
* [http://www.ldp.org.au/ldpHistory.html LDP history]
* [http://ldpblog.wordpress.com/ LDP blog]
* [http://www.youtube.com/user/libertyanddemocracy LDP videos]