What about the smaller parties?published at 03:25 British Summer Time
Labor, the Liberals, the Nationals and the Greens may get talked about the most, but there are actually 12 different parties represented in the Australian Senate, and eight in the House of Representatives.
Here are a few of the minor parties hoping to be re-elected.
Pauline Hanson’s One Nation Party
This right-wing party was set-up by Queensland Senator Pauline Hanson in 1997. Hanson has frequently been a figure of controversy, including an infamous stunt where she wore a burka in the Australian senate while arguing for them to be banned. Her party’s policies include protecting free speech and deporting “illegal immigrants”.
Bob Katter’s Australian Party
Once a member of the Nationals, Katter has been an MP for 50 years and is known for his loquacious style of speaking. During 2017’s referendum on same-sex marriage, Katter provided a stand-out moment of the campaign when he linked the matter to preventing deadly crocodile attacks in north Queensland.
Clive Palmer’s Trumpet of Patriots
Billionaire Clive Palmer’s party was called the United Australia Party (UAP) last election – but despite spending about A$123m (£59.3, $78.9) on their campaign, won only a single senate seat. The UAP was voluntarily deregistered, but Palmer is now back with the Trumpet of Patriots Party.
Centre Alliance
Centre Alliance has one MP, Rebekha Sharkie. She has already said that, in the event of a hung parliament, she would liaise with Coalition leader Peter Dutton first.
