Freedom Party of Victoria

Freedom Party of Victoria
AbbreviationFPV
LeaderMorgan Jonas
FoundedJune 2022
Registered29 September 2022
Ideology
Political positionRight-wing to far-right[4] [5]
Colors  Red   Blue
Slogan“Protecting Victorian Jobs – Homes – Families”
Legislative Assembly
0 / 88
Legislative Council
0 / 40
Website
freedomparty.net.au
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The Freedom Party of Victoria is a right-wing micro party registered in the Australian state of Victoria. Founded and registered in 2022,[6][7] by anti-vaxxer and alt-right blogger Morgan Jonas,[8] the party ran in the 2022 Victorian state election on an anti-lockdown and anti-vaccine mandate platform, but was unsuccessful in winning any seats.

The party emerged from the protests to the response from the state government during the COVID-19 pandemic,[1] and features many candidates that hold anti-vaccine, anti-lockdown and anti-mandate views. The party's leader is Morgan Jonas,[1] an anti-vaccine,[9] anti-lockdown[10] campaigner and former candidate of the United Australia Party (UAP).[9] from 2022 to 2023, the party's deputy leader was former Liberal National (LNP) Queensland politician Aidan McLindon, who left the party in 2023 to try to rejoin the Liberal Party.[11]

The party contested the 2022 Victorian state election, winning less than 2% of the statewide vote and winning no seats in either chamber of the Victorian Parliament.[12] Actor Damien Richardson ran for the party in 2022. The Party also contested the 2023 Narracan state supplementary election and 2023 Warrandyte state by-election.

In 2023, the party endorsed the No vote during the 2023 Australian Indigenous Voice referendum.[13]

Critics of the party say that it spreads conspiracy theories and misinformation, especially about vaccines.[14]

References

  1. ^ a b c Hales, Holly (30 September 2022). "Fringe political parties could prove an election disaster for Dan Andrews". News.com.au.
  2. ^ Dexter, Rachael (30 October 2022). "Is Melton going to break Labor's 'wall' in the west?". The Age.
  3. ^ Eddie, Rachel (28 July 2022). "The blocker v the whisperer: Prizefight for preferences before state poll". The Age.
  4. ^ Dexter, Rachael (28 October 2023). "Prominent 'freedom' protesters back Craig Kelly and Clive Palmer". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  5. ^ Gardiner, Andrew (28 October 2023). "City Builders, the Pentecostal cult driving the Liberal Party to the far right and beyond". Michael West Media. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  6. ^ Smethurst, Annika; Graham, Jackson (6 October 2022). "Micro-parties seeking upper house spots struggle with 'archaic' registration process". The Age.
  7. ^ "Currently registered parties". vec.vic.gov.au. Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC). Archived from the original on 31 October 2022. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
  8. ^ https://www.news.com.au/national/politics/antivaxxer-morgan-jonas-flags-next-move-after-quitting-united-australia-party/news-story/c74d1092c73b29bd664dacaf4fa18a4f?amp
  9. ^ a b McLeod, Catie (7 March 2022). "Anti-vaxxer Morgan Jonas flags next move after quitting United Australia Party". News.com.au.
  10. ^ Smith, Rohan (29 April 2022). "Independent, anti-vaccine mandate candidate clashes with Melbourne radio host Neil Mitchell". News.com.au.
  11. ^ "Victorian Liberals weigh up whether they will allow former Freedom Party leader Aidan McLindon back into their ranks". Sky News Australia. 6 September 2023. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
  12. ^ "Party Totals". ABC News. Retrieved 2023-10-11.
  13. ^ "What strange times we live in when a Prime Minister actively works to divide the country..." Freedom Party of Victoria. 17 April 2023. Archived from the original on 17 April 2023. Retrieved 19 April 2023 – via Facebook.
  14. ^ https://www.crikey.com.au/2022/11/21/victoria-election-campaign-red-mist-dark-turn/