# List of political parties in Australia

The politics of Australia has a mild two-party system, with two dominant political groupings in the Australian political system, the Australian Labor Party and the Liberal/National Coalition. Federally, 17 of the 151 members of the lower house (Members of Parliament, or MPs) are not members of major parties, as well as 21 of the 76 members of the upper house (senators).
The Parliament of Australia has a number of distinctive features including compulsory voting, with full-preference instant-runoff voting in single-member seats to elect the lower house, the Australian House of Representatives, and the use of the single transferable vote to elect the upper house, the Australian Senate.
Other parties tend to perform better in the upper houses of the various federal and state parliaments since these typically use a form of proportional representation, except for in Tasmania where the lower house is proportionally elected and the upper house is made up of single member districts.

## History

Two political groups dominate the Australian political spectrum, forming a de facto two-party system. One is the Australian Labor Party (ALP), a centre-left party which is formally linked to the Australian labour movement. Formed in 1893, it has been a major party federally since 1901, and has been one of the two major parties since the 1910 federal election. The ALP is in government in New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia, the Australian Capital Territory and the Federal Government of Australia.
The other group is a conservative grouping of parties that are in coalition at the federal level, as well as in New South Wales, but compete in Western Australia and South Australia. It is in government in Tasmania and the Northern Territory. The main party in this group is the centre-right Liberal Party. The Liberal Party is the modern form of a conservative group that has existed since the combination of the Protectionist Party and Free Trade Party into the Commonwealth Liberal Party in 1909. Although this group has changed its nomenclature, there has been a general continuity of MPs and structure between different forms of the party. Its modern form was founded by Robert Menzies in 1944. The party's philosophy is generally liberal conservatism.
Every elected prime minister of Australia since 1910 has been a member of either the Labor Party, the Liberal Party, or one of the Liberal Party's previous incarnations (the Commonwealth Liberal Party, the Nationalist Party of Australia, and the United Australia Party).
The Liberal Party is joined by the National Party, a party that represents rural and agricultural interests. The Nationals contest a limited number of seats and do not generally directly compete with the Liberal Party. Its ideology is generally more socially conservative than that of the Liberal Party. In 1987, the National Party made an abortive run for the office of prime minister in its own right, in the Joh for Canberra campaign. However, it has generally not aspired to become the majority party in the coalition, and it is generally understood that the prime minister of Australia will be a member of either the Labor or Liberal parties. On two occasions (involving Earle Page in 1939, and John McEwen from December 1967 to January 1968), the deputy prime minister, the leader of the National Party (then known as the Country Party), became the prime minister temporarily, upon the death of the incumbent prime minister. Arthur Fadden was the only other Country Party prime minister. He assumed office in August 1941 after the resignation of Robert Menzies and served as prime minister until October of that year.
The Liberal and National parties have merged in Queensland and the Northern Territory/South Australia, although the resultant parties are different. The Liberal National Party of Queensland, formed in 2008, is a branch of the Liberal Party, but it is affiliated with the Nationals and members elected to federal parliament may sit as either Liberals or Nationals. The Country Liberal Party was formed in 1978 when the Northern Territory gained responsible government. It is a separate member of the federal coalition, but it is affiliated with the two major members and its president has voting rights in the National Party. The name refers to the older name of the National Party.
Federally, these parties are collectively known as the Coalition. The Coalition has existed continually (between the Nationals and their predecessors, and the Liberals and their predecessors) since 1923, with minor breaks in 1940, 1973, and 1987.
Historically, support for either the Coalition or the Labor Party was often viewed as being based on social class, with the upper and middle classes supporting the Coalition and the working class supporting Labor. This has been a less important factor since the 1970s and 1980s when the Labor Party gained a significant bloc of middle-class support and the Coalition gained a significant bloc of working-class support.
The two-party duopoly has been relatively stable, with the two groupings (Labor and Coalition) gaining at least 70% of the primary vote in every election between 1910 and 2019 (including the votes of autonomous state parties). Third parties have only rarely received more than 10% of the vote for the Australian House of Representatives in a federal election, such as the Australian Democrats in the 1990 election and the Australian Greens in 2010, 2016, 2019 and 2022. Additionally, support for Independent politicians in Australia has resulted in major parties having to come to agreements to form government at times, including the 2010 Australian Federal Election.

## Membership requirement

To maintain registration, parties must demonstrate that they have a certain number of members.
Federally, since 2022, unless a party has current parliamentary representation, they must demonstrate they have 1,500 members. For the state and territory elections, parties require 100 members in Tasmania and the ACT, 200 in South Australia and Northern Territory, 500 in Victoria, Queensland and Western Australia, and 750 in New South Wales.
Membership requirement(s) :
| State/Level | Requirement |
| Federal | 1,500 |
| New South Wales | 750 |
| Victoria | 500 |
| Queensland | 500 |
| Western Australia | 500 |
| South Australia | 200 |
| Northern Territory | 200 |
| Tasmania | 100 |
| Australian Capital Territory | 100 |

## Federal parties
### Federal parliamentary parties

| Political party | Political party | Political party | Members of the Parliament of Australia as of December 2024 | Members of the Parliament of Australia as of December 2024 | Party leader(s) | Ideology |
| Political party | Political party | Political party | House of Reps | Senate | Party leader(s) | Ideology |
| | Australian Labor Party | Australian Labor Party | 78 / 151 | 25 / 76 | Anthony Albanese | Social democracy, Social liberalism |
| | Coalition | Liberal Party | 40 / 151 | 25 / 76 | Peter Dutton | Liberal conservatism, Social conservatism, Economic liberalism |
| | Coalition | National Party | 15 / 151 | 6 / 76 | David Littleproud | Conservatism, agrarianism |
| | Australian Greens | Australian Greens | 4 / 151 | 11 / 76 | Adam Bandt | Green politics, progressivism |
| | One Nation | One Nation | 0 / 151 | 2 / 76 | Pauline Hanson | National conservatism, Right-wing populism |
| | Australia's Voice | Australia's Voice | 0 / 151 | 1 / 76 | Fatima Payman | Progressivism |
| | Centre Alliance | Centre Alliance | 1 / 151 | 0 / 76 | — | Social liberalism, populism |
| | David Pocock | David Pocock | 0 / 151 | 1 / 76 | David Pocock | Environmentalism, progressivism |
| | Jacqui Lambie Network | Jacqui Lambie Network | 0 / 151 | 1 / 76 | Jacqui Lambie | Populism, social conservatism |
| | Katter's Australian Party | Katter's Australian Party | 1 / 151 | 0 / 76 | Robbie Katter | Social conservatism, developmentalism |
| | People First Party | People First Party | 0 / 151 | 1 / 76 | Gerard Rennick | Social conservatism, nationalism |
| | United Australia Party | United Australia Party | 0 / 151 | 1 / 76 | Ralph Babet | Australian nationalism, Right-wing populism |
* ↑ David Pocock was elected as a member of a political party also named "David Pocock," formed to allow him to appear as an above-the-line group on the Senate ballot. He is listed as an independent by the parliamentary website; however, the party remains registered, and the AEC lists David Pocock as a parliamentary party.
* ↑ The United Australia Party was voluntarily deregistered on 8 September 2022. However, Ralph Babet, the party's sole parliamentary representative, stated that the change was made for "administrative reasons," and he continues to represent the deregistered UAP in the Senate.

### Federal non-parliamentary parties

Parties listed in alphabetical order as of January 2025:
| Name | Leader(s) | Ideology / objective |
| Animal Justice Party | Angela Pollard | Animal protection, animal rights |
| Australian Christians | Maryka Groenewald | Social conservatism, Christian right |
| Australian Citizens Party | Craig Isherwood | LaRouche movement, economic nationalism |
| Australian Democrats | Lyn Allison | Social liberalism, anti-corruption |
| Fusion Party | Drew Wolfendale | Secular humanism, progressivism |
| Family First Party | Lyle Shelton | Christian politics, social conservatism |
| The Great Australian Party | Rod Culleton | Right-wing populism |
| Indigenous-Aboriginal Party | 'Uncle' Owen Whyman | Indigenous rights, constitutional reform |
| Kim for Canberra | Kim Rubenstein | Progressivism |
| Legalise Cannabis | Michael Balderstone | Cannabis legalisation |
| Libertarian Party | Anthony Bull | Classical liberalism, right-libertarianism |
| Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party | Robert Brown | Agrarianism, green conservatism |
| Socialist Alliance | Jacob Andrewartha Sarah Hathway Sam Wainwright | Eco-socialism, anti-capitalism |
| Sustainable Australia Party | Celeste Ackerly | Environmentalism, sustainable development |
| Trumpet of Patriots | Suellen Wrightson | Trumpism |
| Victorian Socialists | Collective leadership | Socialism |
| Western Sydney Community | Dai Le Frank Carbone | Western Sydney localism |

## State and territory parties
### New South Wales

As of the New South Wales Electoral Commission:

#### Parliamentary parties

| Name | Name | MPs | MLCs | Leader | Ideology |
| NSW Labor Party | NSW Labor Party | 45 / 93 | 15 / 42 | Chris Minns | Social democracy, social liberalism |
| Coalition | Liberal Party | 24 / 93 | 9 / 42 | Mark Speakman | Liberal conservatism, economic liberalism |
| Coalition | National Party | 11 / 93 | 5 / 42 | Dugald Saunders | Conservatism, agrarianism |
| The Greens NSW | The Greens NSW | 3 / 93 | 4 / 42 | No leader | Green politics, progressivism |
| Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party | Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party | 0 / 93 | 2 / 42 | Robert Borsak | Green conservatism, Agrarianism |
| Animal Justice Party | Animal Justice Party | 0 / 93 | 1 / 42 | Emma Hurst | Animal protection, animal rights |
| Legalise Cannabis | Legalise Cannabis | 0 / 93 | 1 / 42 | Jeremy Buckingham | Cannabis legalisation |
| Libertarian Party | Libertarian Party | 0 / 93 | 1 / 42 | John Ruddick | Classical liberalism, right-libertarianism |

#### Non-parliamentary parties

| Name | Returning officer | Ideology |
| HEART Party | Michael O'Neill | Anti-vaccination, Anti-fluoridation |
| One Nation | Pauline Hanson | Right-wing populism, Hansonism |
| Public Education Party | Glen Stelzer | Public education, social justice |
| Socialist Alliance | Kathryn Fairfax | Socialism, anti-capitalism |
| Sustainable Australia Party | William Bourke | Environmentalism, sustainable development |
| The Small Business Party | Eddie Dogramaci | Small business advocacy |

### Victoria

As of the Victorian Electoral Commission:

#### Parliamentary parties

| Name | Name | MLAs | MLCs | Leader | Ideology |
| Australian Labor Party | Australian Labor Party | 55 / 88 | 15 / 40 | Jacinta Allan | Social democracy, social liberalism |
| Coalition | Liberal Party | 19 / 88 | 11 / 40 | Brad Battin | Liberal conservatism, economic liberalism |
| Coalition | National Party | 9 / 88 | 2 / 40 | Peter Walsh | Conservatism, agrarianism |
| Australian Greens | Australian Greens | 4 / 88 | 4 / 40 | Ellen Sandell | Green politics, progressivism |
| Legalise Cannabis | Legalise Cannabis | 0 / 88 | 2 / 40 | | Cannabis legalisation |
| Libertarian Party | Libertarian Party | 0 / 88 | 1 / 40 | David Limbrick | Classical liberalism, right-libertarianism |
| Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party | Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party | 0 / 88 | 1 / 40 | Jeff Bourman | Green conservatism, agrarianism |
| One Nation | One Nation | 0 / 88 | 1 / 40 | | Right-wing populism, Hansonism |
| Animal Justice Party | Animal Justice Party | 0 / 88 | 1 / 40 | Georgie Purcell | Animal protection, animal rights |

#### Non-parliamentary parties

| Name | Leader | Ideology |
| Companions and Pets Party | John Hutchison | Greyhound racing advocacy, horse racing advocacy |
| Freedom Party of Victoria | Morgan Jonas | Social conservatism, right-wing populism |
| New Democrats | Kaushaliya Vaghela | Anti-corruption |
| Sustainable Australia Party | Clifford Hayes | Environmentalism, sustainable development |
| Victorian Socialists | No leader | Socialism |

### Queensland

As of the Queensland Electoral Commission:

#### Parliamentary parties

| Name | MPs | Leader | Ideology |
| Liberal National Party | 52 / 93 | David Crisafulli | Liberal conservatism, economic liberalism |
| Australian Labor Party | 36 / 93 | Steven Miles | Social democracy, social liberalism |
| Katter's Australian Party | 3 / 93 | Robbie Katter | Populism, agrarian socialism |
| Australian Greens | 1 / 93 | Gemmia Burden (convenor) | Green politics, left-wing populism |

#### Non-parliamentary parties

| Name | Leader | Ideology |
| Animal Justice Party | | Animal protection, animal rights |
| Family First Party | Tom Kenyon | Christian politics, social conservatism |
| Legalise Cannabis | | Cannabis legalisation |
| Libertarian Party | | Classical liberalism, right-libertarianism |
| One Nation | James Ashby | Right-wing populism, Hansonism |

### Western Australia

As of the Western Australian Electoral Commission:

#### Parliamentary parties

| Name | MLAs | MLCs | Leader | Ideology |
| WA Labor | 53 / 59 | 21 / 36 | Roger Cook | Social democracy, social liberalism |
| Liberal Party Western Australia | 3 / 59 | 7 / 36 | Libby Mettam | Liberal conservatism, economic liberalism |
| The Nationals WA | 3 / 59 | 2 / 36 | Shane Love | Conservatism, agrarianism |
| Legalise Cannabis Party WA | 0 / 59 | 1 / 36 | | Cannabis legalisation |
| The Greens (WA) | 0 / 59 | 1 / 36 | Brad Pettitt | Green politics |

#### Non-parliamentary parties

| Name | Leader | Ideology |
| Animal Justice Party | | Animal protection, animal rights |
| Australian Christians | Jamie van Burgel | Conservatism, Christian right |
| Stop Pedophiles! Protect kiddies! (Previously Democratic Labour Party however Democratic Labour Party denies association) | | |
| Libertarian Party | | Classical liberalism, right-libertarianism |
| Pauline Hanson's One Nation | Rod Caddies | Right-wing populism, Hansonism |
| Shooters, Fishers and Farmers | Rick Mazza | Agrarianism, green conservatism |
| Sustainable Australia Party – Anti-corruption | | |

### South Australia

As of the Electoral Commission of South Australia:

#### Parliamentary parties

| Name | MHAs | MLCs | Leader | Ideology |
| Australian Labor Party | 27 / 47 | 9 / 22 | Peter Malinauskas | Social democracy, social liberalism |
| Liberal Party | 16 / 47 | 8 / 22 | David Speirs | Liberal conservatism, economic liberalism |
| Australian Greens | 0 / 47 | 2 / 22 | Tammy Franks | Green politics |
| One Nation | 0 / 47 | 1 / 22 | Jennifer Game | Right-wing populism, Hansonism |
| SA-Best | 0 / 47 | 1 / 22 | Connie Bonaros | Social liberalism |

#### Non-parliamentary parties

| Name | Leader | Ideology |
| Animal Justice Party | | Animal protection Animal rights |
| Australian Family Party | Bob Day | Christian politics Right-wing populism Conservatism |
| Child Protection Party | Tony Tonkin | Child protection advocacy |
| Family First Party | Tom Kenyon | Christian politics Social conservatism |
| Legalise Cannabis | Damon Adams | Cannabis legalisation |
| Libertarian Party | | Classical liberalism Right-libertarianism |
| National Party | Jonathon Pietzsch | Conservatism Agrarianism |
| Real Change SA | Stephen Pallaras | |

### Tasmania

As of the Tasmanian Electoral Commission:

#### Parliamentary parties

| Name | MHAs | MLCs | Leader | Ideology |
| Liberal Party | 14 / 35 | 4 / 15 | Jeremy Rockliff | Liberal conservatism, economic liberalism |
| Australian Labor Party | 10 / 35 | 3 / 15 | Dean Winter | Social democracy, social liberalism |
| Australian Greens | 5 / 35 | 1 / 15 | Rosalie Woodruff | Green politics |
| Jacqui Lambie Network | 1 / 35 | 0 / 15 | Jacqui Lambie | Social conservatism, veterans' rights |

#### Non-parliamentary parties

| Name | Leader | Ideology |
| Animal Justice Party | | Animal protectionism, Animal rights |
| National Party of Australia | | Conservatism, Agrarianism |
| Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party | Carlo Di Falco | Green conservatism, Agrarianism |

### Australian Capital Territory

As listed with the ACT Electoral Commission:

#### Parliamentary parties

| Name | MLAs | Leader | Ideology |
| Australian Labor Party | 10 / 25 | Andrew Barr | Social democracy, social liberalism |
| Liberal Party | 9 / 25 | Elizabeth Lee | Liberal conservatism, economic liberalism |
| Australian Greens | 4 / 25 | Shane Rattenbury | Green politics |
| Independents for Canberra | 1 / 25 | Thomas Emerson | |
| Fiona Carrick Independent | 1 / 25 | Fiona Carrick | |

#### Non-parliamentary parties

| Name | Leader | Ideology |
| Animal Justice Party | | Animal protection, animal rights |
| Belco Party | Bill Stefaniak | |
| Canberra Progressives | Kerry Markoulli | Progressivism |
| Democratic Labour Party | | Christian democracy, distributism |
| Family First Party | Tom Kenyon | Christian politics, social conservatism |
| First Nation Party | Paul Girrawah House | |
| Libertarian Party | | Classical liberalism, right-libertarianism |
| Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party | | Green conservatism, Agrarianism |
| Strong Independents | Peter Strong and Ann Bray | |
| Sustainable Australia Party | John Haydon | Environmentalism, sustainable development |
| The Community Action Party | | |

### Northern Territory

As of the Northern Territory Electoral Commission:

#### Parliamentary parties

| Name | MLAs | Leader | Ideology |
| Country Liberal Party | 17 / 25 | Lia Finocchiaro | Conservatism |
| Australian Labor Party | 4 / 25 | Selena Uibo | Social democracy, social liberalism |
| Australian Greens | 1 / 25 | No leader | Green politics |

#### Non-parliamentary parties

| Name | Name | Leader | Ideology |
| | Animal Justice Party | | Animal protection, animal rights |
| | Australian Federation Party | | Conservatism |