In addition to political parties registered at the state and national level, a number of political parties and groups compete solely in local government elections in Australia.
Some of these parties are officially registered with electoral commissions in their respective states.
Non-local parties refers to parties in each state or territory that endorse candidates for local elections, but do not exclusively operate at a local level. This differs in each jurisdiction, with the Australian Labor Party and the Liberal Party of Australia only contesting in certain states.
The Australian Greens have endorsed councillors in all states and territories, except South Australia.
New South Wales
Parties with representation
Parties without representation
Some parties are registered for local elections only, even though they may also contest state or federal elections.
Non-local parties
Both the Labor Party and Liberal Party endorse candidates for local elections in a large number of New South Wales LGAs, as do several minor parties.
Northern Territory
Non-local parties
The Territory Labor Party and Country Liberal Party generally do not endorse local government candidates.
Queensland
At local elections in Queensland, candidates and incumbent councillors can formally register groups (which operate similarly to parties) with the state electoral commission. These groups often contain members of other political parties, including the ALP and LNP.
Parties with representation
Parties without representation
Non-local parties
The Queensland Labor Party and Liberal National Party contest Brisbane City Council elections, while several minor parties also endorse candidates across the state.
Tasmania
According to psephologist Kevin Bonham, tickets formed for Tasmanian local elections are "alliances of convenience that may have an ideological basis," not necessarily parties.
Parties with representation
Non-local parties
The Tasmanian Liberal Party and the Tasmanian Labor Party generally do not endorse local government candidates.
Victoria
Parties with representation
Parties without representation
Non-local parties
The Victorian Labor Party contests multiple LGAs with endorsed candidates, as do several minor parties.
Western Australia
Local elections in Western Australia are officially non-partisan, and the vast majority of candidates and councillors are not members of any political party.
Non-local parties
Former parties
Parties with representation
Parties without representation
See also
- Independent Labor (Australia)
- Independent Liberal (Australia)
- Independent National (Australia)
Notes
References
