People Power | |
|---|---|
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| Leader | Vern Hughes &Stephen Mayne |
| Founded | 2004; 21 years ago (2004) |
| Headquarters | Melbourne, Victoria |
| Ideology | Progressivism |
People Power was apopulist political movement in Australia that was federally registered as a political party in March 2006. The party contested its first election at the2006 Victorian state election and was de-registered federally in December 2006.[1]
People Power released their anti-gambling policy on 4 September 2006 which aims to attack the social problems associated withcompulsive gambling. The policy aims for an end to the commercial use ofPoker Machines in Victoria by 2012. Under the policy, the Commonwealth Government would provide incentives for State Governments to ban the installation of poker machines.[2]
People Power released their Public Schools policy on 13 September 2006 which aims to target what it calls "one-size-fits-all schooling" in Victoria. The plan includes the abolition of Public School fees and independent reporting and monitoring of school performance.
The party was first established in 2000 by Vern Hughes andCrikey founderStephen Mayne, only to be suspended at the end of 2001. It was then re-established in 2004 and registered in 2006.
A member of People Power, Deborah Locke, was one of the candidates for the2005 Werriwa by-election that was caused by the sudden resignation ofMark Latham from parliament. However, People Power did not have official party status at the time and she was required to stand as anindependent candidate. She received 3.1% of the vote, placing her 9th out of 16 candidates.[3]
People Power contested the Victorian state election in November 2006. The party fielded candidates for seats in both houses of Parliament.
On 19 September, the party's election preparations were interrupted by the resignation of lead candidateJack Reilly and reports in the media that there were irregularities in their party registration.
The party did not win a seat in either house of Parliament.
People Power dissolved in late 2006 amidst severe internal recriminations. Following an October 2006 dispute between Vern Hughes and Robyn Allcock, the party's communication director, over drug policy, Hughes issued a press release expelling Stephen Mayne from the party on 29 November. Hughes argued Mayne was power-hungry and focused on himself, while Mayne stated that Hughes was authoritarian and obsessed with control.[4]
Notable former candidates:
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