Pirate Party Australia
| Pirate Party Australia | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Founded | 2009 |
| Ideology | Pirate politics |
| International affiliation | Pirate Parties International |
| Colours | Blue |
| Website | |
| http://www.pirateparty.org.au | |
Pirate Party Australia is a political party in Australia that represents civil liberty issues.[1][2] The party is based on the Pirate Party of Sweden and is focused on copyright reform, internet freedom, and ending censorship.[3] Australian Internet Filter and data retention proposals are key issues for the Party.[4]
Pirate Party Australia was formally registered as a political party by the Australian Electoral Commission on 17 January 2013.[5][6]
At the request of Exit International, Pirate Party Australia member (and future President) David W. Campbell [7] conducted a series of information sessions as part of Exit International's workshop for seniors who wanted to know how to by-pass the Australian Internet Filter so that they can access information on safe euthanasia techniques.[8]
Elections
In late 2009, the party announced its intention to contest the 2010 federal election[9] and recruited the 500 members necessary for registration. The Party was expected to mainly compete with the Australian Greens and the Australian Sex Party.[10]
At that time, the Party had over 1100 preliminary members. The party sent a call-out for leadership positions, with leadership elections held on 7 October. David Crafti was elected the party's first President. Rodney Serkowski, the founder of the Party, took over the position of President in late July, 2010, at the Party's National Congress. As of The National Congress in July 2013, Simon Frew has held the position of President.
Due to registration requirements, the Party was not able to formally contest the 2010 federal election.[11]
Australian Capital Territory General Election, 2012
In 2012, members of the Pirate Party's ACT branch ran as independent candidates in the Australian Capital Territory elections.[12][13] The Pirate Party endorsed three ungrouped candidates in the election, each of them receiving below 1% of the votes.[14]
Australian Federal Election, 2013
Pirate Party Australia ran eight candidates for the Senate in the 2013 Australian Federal Election: two candidates each in the states of New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria and Tasmania.[15] The Party was unique in its approach to preference deals with other parties in that they are professing to eschew the secret deals that typify preference negotiations and instead are conducting all such activities openly and transparently and putting all decisions to a membership vote.[16][17]
National Council
The executive board of Pirate Party Australia is the National Council, with nine elected members who serve a term of no more than 12 months. Prior to July 2013, the National Council had seven members.
National Council Members July 2013–Present
All positions were decided by election at the July 2013 National Congress, held in Canberra.
| Position | Holder |
|---|---|
| President | Simon Frew |
| Deputy President | Melanie Thomas |
| Secretary | Daniel Judge |
| Deputy Secretary | Mozart Olbrycht-Palmer |
| Treasurer | Ben McGinnes |
| Deputy Treasurer | Mark Gibbons |
| Registered Officer* | Glen Takkenberg |
| Councillor (1) | Brendan Molloy |
| Councillor (2) | David W. Campbell |
- Registered Officer was formerly called 'Party Agent.'
National Council Members July 2012–July 2013
All positions were decided by election at the July 2012 National Congress, held in Melbourne.
| Position | Holder |
|---|---|
| President | David W. Campbell |
| Deputy President | Simon Frew |
| Secretary | Brendan Molloy |
| Deputy Secretary | Mozart Olbrycht-Palmer |
| Treasurer | Rodney Serkowski |
| Deputy Treasurer | Sam Kearns |
| Party Agent | Glen Takkenberg |
National Council Members October 2011–July 2012
All positions were decided by election at the October 2011 National Congress, held in Sydney.
| Position | Holder |
|---|---|
| President | David W. Campbell |
| Deputy President | Simon Frew |
| Secretary | Brendan Molloy |
| Deputy Secretary | David Haidon |
| Treasurer | Rodney Serkowski |
| Deputy Treasurer | Jack Coulter (resigned) |
| Party Agent | Alexis Shaw |
National Council Members July 2010–October 2011
All positions were decided by election at the October 2011 National Congress, held in Sydney.
| Position | Holder |
|---|---|
| President | Rodney Serkowski |
| Deputy President | David W. Campbell |
| Acting Secretary* | Simon Frew |
| Acting Secretary* | Brendan Molloy |
| Treasurer | Paul Templeton |
| Deputy Treasurer | Robert Bain |
| Party Agent | Alexis Shaw |
- Both Simon Frew and Brendan Molloy contested the position of Secretary. This was, for reasons unknown, unresolved and both acted in the position of Secretary, rather than as Secretary and Deputy Secretary.
National Council Members October 2009–July 2010
Positions were decided via online membership vote.
| Position | Holder |
|---|---|
| President | David Crafti |
| Deputy President | David Gaetjens |
| Secretary | Peter Barber (resigned)/Rodney Serkowski |
| Deputy Secretary | Michael Nadler |
| Treasurer | Jarryd Lassen (resigned)/Paul Templeton |
| Deputy Treasurer | Paul Templeton/Hayden Dwyer |
| Party Agent | Rodney Serkowski |
See also
References
- ↑ https://join.pirateparty.org.au/
- ↑ Spandas Lui (12 May 2010). "Pirate Party to become formal political party". IDG Communications. Retrieved 17 May 2010.
- ↑ "FAQ". Pirate Party Australia. Retrieved 29 September 2009.
- ↑ "Pirate Party storms Australia". ZDNet Australia. 2009-09-29. Retrieved 29 September 2009.
- ↑ "Application for registration approved - Pirate Party Australia". Retrieved 21 January 2013.
- ↑ "@AusElectoralCom - The Pirate Party Australia was officially registered on 17 January 2013.".
- ↑ "Beating The Filter Masterclass Photos". ZDNet Australia. 2010-04-13. Retrieved 13 April 2010.
- ↑ Bella Counihan (4 May 2010). "Government tries to net votes in Howard’s domain". Sydney Morning Herald (Fairfax Digital). Retrieved 17 May 2010.
- ↑ "Pirate Party to contest next Federal election". iTNews. 2009-09-29. Retrieved 29 September 2009.
- ↑ John Ozimek (2 October 2009). "Australian Pirate Party sets sail". The Register. Retrieved 12 October 2009.
- ↑ "Pirate Party Australia: Moving Forward". Pirate Party Australia. Retrieved 17 July 2010.
- ↑ "Pirate Party ACT will be contesting the 2012 ACT elections as independents". Retrieved 3 October 2012.
- ↑ "Pirate Party to run Independent Candidates in Upcoming ACT Election". Retrieved 6 August 2012.
- ↑ "Elections ACT". Retrieved 24 October 2012.
- ↑ "Pirate Party announces Senate candidates". Retrieved 9 August 2013.
- ↑ "Pirate Party leads the way with transparent preferencing". Retrieved 9 August 2013.
- ↑ "Party profile: The Pirate Party, SBS, World News Australia Radio". Retrieved 9 August 2013.
External links
- Pirate Party Australia Official site
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