Australian Protectionist Party

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Australian Protectionist Party
LeaderAndrew Phillips[1]
NewspaperDestiny
Ideology
Political positionRight-wing to far-right
Colours    Red and Blue
Website
protectionist.net

The Australian Protectionist Party (APP) is a minor Australian far-right anti-immigration party, focused on economic protectionism and white nationalism,[2] that opposes refugees and asylum seekers and often participates in rallies such as the one outside the Villawood Immigration Detention Centre.[3] Since its formation, the party has been active in protesting against the presence of asylum seekers and Muslims, and has also organised several protests against Sharia law being implemented in Australia.[4][5][6] The Global Project Against Hate and Extremism (GPAHE) released a report on October 5, 2022, in which it classified the Australian Protectionist Party as a "white nationalist," "anti-immigrant," and "anti-muslim" group.[7]

The party was registered as a federal political party with the Australian Electoral Commission on 18 January 2011 and deregistered on 18 June 2015.[8] The party continues to have an active website and seeks donations. Its current officeholders are not disclosed and its address is given as a PO Box in Tasmania.

History[edit]

On 10 September 2007, Andrew Phillips, described by the party as its national chairman and South Australian spokesman, formally announced the formation of the Australian Protectionist Party.[9] The formation of the party was described as a split from the Australia First Party.[10]

Darrin Hodges ran unsuccessfully as a candidate in the 2008 elections for Sutherland Shire Council, coming last in his ward.[11][12] At the 2010 Australian federal election, Hodges and Nicholas Hunter-Folkes (aka. Nick Folkes) ran a Senate ticket in New South Wales, running as independents, as APP was not registered in time. They received 1,864 votes or 0.04% of the vote.[13] Andrew Phillips stood for the seat of Mayo in South Australia, also as an independent, receiving 993 votes or 1.08% of the votes.

APP was registered as a federal political party with the Australian Electoral Commission on 18 January 2011.[8]

In June 2012, Andrew Phillips was described as the party's nominal leader, following the resignation of de facto party leader Darrin Hodges.[14] In September 2012, NSW chairman Nick Folkes unsuccessfully contested the NSW council elections for the Municipality of Leichhardt, receiving 41 votes or 0.6% of the total vote for the ward.[15] In December 2012, Folkes resigned from APP to form Party for Freedom,[16] modeled on Wilder's Freedom Party, and taking the entire Sydney branch with him.[17] Folkes' Party for Freedom appears to have links to Pauline Hanson's One Nation.[18]

At the 2013 Australian federal election for the Senate in NSW, the APP ticket of Mark Grech and Christian Johns received 2,424 votes or 0.06% of the vote.[19] The AEC deregistered APP on 18 June 2015.[8]

In June 2016, APP in Western Australia hosted a public speaking event in Perth featuring Graeme Campbell,[20] whom APP described as "the Father of modern Australian nationalism".[21] Campbell was the founder in 1996 of the far-right Australia First Party and had at times been a Labor, One Nation and independent MP.

In October 2016, the Australian Protectionist Party joined with the Australia First Party, Nationalist Alternative, Eureka Youth League, and Hellenic Nationalists of Australia to form the Australian Coalition of Nationalists (ACN).[22]

The APP hailed the election of US president Donald Trump, believing this "ushered in a new era".[23]

Federal parliament[edit]

House of Representatives
Election year # of
overall votes
% of
overall vote
# of
overall seats won
+/– Government
2013 1,079 0.01 (#29)
0 / 150
Increase 0
Senate
Election year # of
overall votes
% of
overall vote
# of
overall seats won
# of
overall seats
+/– Notes
2013 3,379 0.03 (#42)
0 / 40
0 / 76
Increase 0

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "APP national office, new postal address". Australian Protectionist Party. 7 December 2012. Retrieved 13 September 2013.
  2. ^ Purtill, James (9 December 2015). "Meet the man who wants to celebrate the Cronulla riots". Triple J Hack. ABC. Retrieved 29 May 2019.
  3. ^ Kontominas, Bellinda (12 April 2010). "Activists' showdown at Villawood's gates". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 12 September 2011.
  4. ^ Sally, By (5 July 2010). "Islamist leader Burhan Hanif tells Aussie Muslims to 'shun democracy'". News.com.au. Retrieved 13 September 2013.
  5. ^ "Reference at www.dailytelegraph.com.au".
  6. ^ "Anti-Defamation League rally, 2011 | Australian Protectionist Party". Archived from the original on 12 September 2012. Retrieved 9 December 2012.
  7. ^ "GPAHE report: Far-Right Hate and Extremist Groups in Australia". Global Project Against Hate and Extremism. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  8. ^ a b c AEC, "Australian Protectionist Party".
  9. ^ "Formation of the Australian Protectionist Party". 10 September 2007.
  10. ^ "Australian Protectionist Party : n a s t y and w e i r d". 5 October 2010.
  11. ^ Gibson, Jano (26 September 2008). "Locals oppose Muslim school". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 12 September 2011.
  12. ^ Matheson, Alan (7 November 2008). "Scrutinising the religious and political right". ON LINE opinion. Australia. Retrieved 12 September 2011.
  13. ^ Sharp, Ari (20 August 2010). "Sex, socialism and shooting lead the charge in microparty race". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 12 September 2011.
  14. ^ "t00t t00t! All Aboard The Australian Protectionist Party Failboat!". 23 June 2012.
  15. ^ "2012 NSW Local Council Elections - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)". Abc.net.au. Retrieved 13 September 2013.
  16. ^ "靴修理で靴を大切に履きたい|靴修理でかかとを直す!".
  17. ^ "Geert Wilders in Australia, February 2013". 3 February 2013.
  18. ^ "Party for Freedom's Nick Folkes vows to ignore legal action and celebrate Cronulla riots anniversary". 5 December 2015.
  19. ^ "Federal election 2013 - Senate Results: New South Wales". Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
  20. ^ APP, August 2016, "Graeme Campbell speaks to the APP in Perth". 12 August 2016.
  21. ^ APP, March 2016, "Perth meeting with Graeme Campbell, 12th June 2016". 24 March 2016.
  22. ^ "The formation of the Australian Coalition of Nationalists". 21 October 2016.
  23. ^ "Trump ushers in a new era". 26 January 2017.

External links[edit]