Vern Hughes

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Vern Hughes (born 26 May 1957) is an Anglican writer and social commentator (although recent reports have him working closely with the DLP in Victoria). He was the co-founder, with Stephen Mayne, of the People Power Party, which was founded in December 2000. Early 2001 was marked by the party's public announcements flagging its intention to campaign for positions in no less than 7 arenas[1], ranging from the Aston senate by-election, Melbourne City Council (where Hughes stood as Deputy Lord Mayor) and the ACT Assembly elections, to tilts at the boards of the RACV, Carlton FC and a credit union[2]. Following poor results, the party's activities were 'suspended', but the party again found sufficient common ground to re-form and initiate their campaign for the Victorian state election in 2005. Hughes' part in building the party, writing policy and enrolling candidates for all (upper & lower houses) seats for the 25 November 2006 Victorian state election[3] was a key factor in the party's success in the campaign's early stages, and most media attention was favourable, as People Power received more column-inches in mainstream media than the Democrats, & certainly more than other minor parties[4].

Following these early successes, the campaign's 'lead candidate', ex-Socceroo Jack Reilly resigned in September, and Stephen Mayne followed Reilly in October (acknowledging 'tensions within the party')[5]. Mayne then re-joined, but Hughes accused Mayne of 'trivialising' the campaign and he withdrew his involvement 6 days before polling day.

For an authorised version of their history (apparently written by Hughes himself) see the NLA archived version of their website as it was in July 2006.[6]

The Annual General Meeting of People Power (the first public meeting of the party since the Victorian campaign) was held, on 13 January 2007. In the Board elections held then, Hughes (who originally announced that he would not renominate, then reversed that decision) was decisively defeated in his bid for re-election to the Presidency by Mike Noske, a result which Hughes has consistently refused to recognize.

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