Independent Liberal | |
|---|---|
| Abbreviation | IndLib[1] |
| Victorian Legislative Council | 1 / 40
|
| Local government (NSW) | 7 / 1,480
|
| Local government (Tas) | 5 / 254
|
Independent Liberal is a description used in Australian politics, often to designate a politician who is a Liberal Party member but not endorsed by the party at elections, or refers to a person who is a member of a parliament and a member of the Liberal Party, but has been expelled or removed from the Liberal party room.
The term has also been used by politicians and political candidates who identify as a liberal, but is independent from the party.
Independent Liberals are present at the local level in several councils. For example, the Liberal Party chose not to endorse candidates in several Sydney councils for the 2021 local elections, with the elected members contesting as independents despite being affiliated with the Liberal Party.[2][3] However, registering a party or affiliation as an "Independent Liberal" is not permitted in New South Wales under section 64 of the Electoral Act 2017, and the use of the term in electoral material is also considered an offence under section 180 of the act.[4][5]
Currently, the only Independent Liberal MP in a state parliament is Moira Deeming, who was expelled from the parliamentary Victorian Liberal Party in May 2023.[6]
- ^ "Hansard" (PDF). Parliament of Victoria. p. 3.
- ^ "'Factional battle': Liberals drop problem councils in local government elections".
- ^ "Liberals retreat from Sydney councils". 5 November 2021.
- ^ "Electoral Act 2017 No 66". legislation.nsw.gov.au. NSW Government. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
- ^ "Regulation of electoral material and election conduct". NSW Electoral Commission. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
- ^ Kolovos, Benita (12 May 2023). "Moira Deeming expelled from Victorian Liberal party room after threat to sue leader John Pesutto". The Guardian.