Australian Values Party

Australian Values Party
AbbreviationAVP
LeaderHeston Russell
FoundedSeptember 2021
Registered18 January 2022
Dissolved29 June 2023
IdeologyVeterans' rights
Populism
Colors  Green   Gold
Victorian Legislative Council
1 / 42
(2022)
Stonnington City Council
1 / 9
(2023)
Website
https://australianvalues.org.au/

The Australian Values Party (AVP) was an Australian political party founded in 2021 by ADF veteran Heston Russell. The party's main focus was veterans' rights, although it had policy positions on other subjects as well.[1][2]

The party was disbanded in June 2023 and voluntarily deregistered the following month.[3]

History

The party was registered by the Australian Electoral Commission as a political party on 18 January 2022, after applying for registration on 17 September 2021.[4] The Australian Values Party fielded candidates in the 2022 Australian federal election.[5][6]

In August 2022, the AVP announced the Angry Victorians Party would contest the Victorian state election as a branch of the party.[7] Independent Member for the Western Metropolitan Region, Catherine Cumming, joined the party in November after having her application to register the Independence Party refused.[8] On 16 November 2022, party leader Heston Russell leaked a video to the Herald Sun of him to talking to Glenn Druery about a potential preference deal, declaring that the AVP felt the co-ordination of the group voting ticket system used by Druery was immoral and needed to be exposed.[9]

Heston donated $650,000 to the party in 2022–23, before winding it up in June 2023, and its ultimate deregistration as a party in August 2023.[10]

Policies

The party has been focused on policies supporting disaster relief, defence and veterans’ affairs, and a heavy health & mental health focus. Party leader Heston Russell has been at the forefront of campaigning on Veterans’ Affairs policy since 2020.[11]

Political representatives

Victorian Legislative Council

Stonnington City Council

  • Joe Gianfriddo (2023)

See also

References

  1. ^ "Retired SAS commander Heston Russell addresses Queensland hotel quarantine mix-up for Afghanistan troops – Drive with Jim Wilson – Omny.fm". omny.fm. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
  2. ^ "Heston Russell Launches Australian Values Party".
  3. ^ "Heston Russell disbands his Australian Values Party". 6 News Australia.
  4. ^ Reid, Joanne (18 January 2022). "Statement of reasons – Australian Values Party" (PDF). Australian Electoral Commission. Archived (PDF) from the original on 25 April 2022. Retrieved 11 May 2022.
  5. ^ "Former military veterans and first responders aiming to enter politics with new Australian Values Party". Courier Mail. Retrieved 16 September 2022.
  6. ^ "Candidates A-Z". abc.net.au. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
  7. ^ "Political party founder's not-so-subtle response to Daniel Andrews question". 3aw.com.au. 3AW. 11 August 2022.
  8. ^ "Victoria Decides: Your guide to the legislative council & group voting tickets". 6 News. November 2022. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  9. ^ Warner, Michael; Johnston, Matt (16 November 2022). "Election fixer Glenn Druery caught out lifting the lid on manipulation of Victoria's voting system". Herald Sun. Retrieved 16 November 2022.
  10. ^ Basford Canales, Sarah; Evershed, Nick (1 February 2024). "Australian political donations: here's who gave the most in 2022–23". The Guardian. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
  11. ^ "Special Forces veteran Heston Russell blasts government over medal stripping scandal". 7News.com.au. 7 December 2020. Retrieved 16 September 2022.