Rise Up Australia Party

The Rise Up Australia Party (RUAP) was a far-right[2][3] political party in Australia. The party's policy platform was focused on nationalist and Christian conservative[2] issues, such as opposing Islamic immigration and religious freedom for Australian Muslims and opposition to same-sex marriage in Australia. The party was launched in 2011 and was led by Pentecostal minister Danny Nalliah until its dissolution in June 2019. Its slogan was "Keep Australia Australian". Nalliah is the president of Catch the Fire Ministries.

Rise Up Australia Party
LeaderDanny Nalliah
Founded22 June 2011 (2011-06-22)
Dissolved26 June 2019 (2019-06-26)
Headquarters23 Melverton Drive, Hallam, Victoria, 3803
IdeologyAustralian nationalism
Conservatism
Social conservatism
Right-wing populism
Christian right
Anti-Islam
Political positionFar-right[1]
Colours      Red, white, blue
SloganKeep Australia Australian
Casey City Council
1 / 11
(2012−2019)
Website
riseupaustralia.com.au

The Rise Up Australia Party received 0.4% of the nationwide Senate vote at the 2013 federal election, 0.3% of the nationwide Senate vote at the 2016 federal election,[4] and 0.44% of the nationwide Senate vote at the 2019 federal election. The party had one councillor, Rosalie Crestani, on the City of Casey in Victoria.

Policies and philosophy edit

The aims of the party included opposition to multiculturalism, preserving Australia's "Judeo-Christian heritage" and cuts to Australia’s "Muslim intake", as well as the protection of Australian ownership, freedom of speech, and freedom of religion.[5]

Before the 2009 Black Saturday bush fires in Victoria which claimed 173 lives,[6] Nalliah claimed to have had a warning dream from God: that His protection would be removed from Victoria, if the Church did not repent and seek God regarding their apathy towards the passing of a Bill that resulted in the "slaughter of innocent children up to full term in the womb."[7] In a similar vein, Nalliah also linked the catastrophic 2010–2011 Queensland floods to remarks Kevin Rudd made about Israel. Nalliah declared on his website "...at once I was reminded of Kevin Rudd speaking against Israel in Israel on 14th December 2010. It is very interesting that Kevin Rudd is from QLD. Is God trying to get our attention? Yes, I believe so."[8]

The party voiced support for the state of Israel, stating in its policy platform "[we] support the right of the State of Israel to exist within secure and defensible borders, and with Jerusalem as its undivided capital".[9]

In a 2011 interview with Perth's Out in Perth, Nalliah stated that homosexuals can be turned back to heterosexual relationships through education and through faith in Christ. " ... while we love the homosexual community and want to get to know them better, we also have a stand, where we say, children need to be protected (from alternative lifestyles). There are times in life when you do things, and maybe you feel yes you are locked into an agenda.... our position is that homosexuality is not OK" and that "Children should not be exposed to [public displays of homosexual affection] and other practices that go beyond morality."[10] The Party also stated that there will be a "homosexual marriage onslaught across the state" if same sex marriage legislation is passed.[11]

The party's energy policy also claimed that Australia's coal-fired power stations are 42% energy efficient, and proposed the repeal of the carbon tax if elected in 2013.[12] The party stated that there needs to be an overhaul of Australia's media content laws, restricting content that is immoral and violent, as well as "socially-degenerating themes".[9] It supported animal welfare issues such as free range farming and banning of live exports and animal testing.[13]

History edit

Daniel Nalliah launched Rise Up Australia Party (RUAP) on 22 June 2011.[14] He had previously been a candidate for the Australian Senate in the 2004 federal election for the Family First Party. It is said he left that party due to demeaning statements about minority groups.[15] The party was launched with the help of Christopher Monckton, who assisted Nalliah and the party in their campaign to run 93 candidates, both in the House of Representatives and the senate in the 2013 federal election.[16][17]

In 2013, the party was involved in Glenn Druery's Minor Party Alliance.[18][19]

In March 2015, the party's Facebook page, which had 6,000 followers, was banned and suspended on Facebook for 24 hours because of what was called "hateful speech" content.[20] It was the first Australian political party page to have been temporarily banned from Facebook.

The party was voluntarily deregistered in June 2019.[21]

Electoral performance edit

The party received 49,341 primary votes or 0.37% of the nationwide Senate vote at the 2013 federal election.[22]

At the 2016 federal election, the party fielded two senate candidates in each of the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland, Victoria and Western Australia, and 31 candidates for the House of Representatives, including 18 in Victoria.[23] The party received 36,472 votes or 0.26% of the nationwide Senate vote and failed to gain any seats in the election. However, it did manage to gain 4% - 7% in six House of Representatives seats and in the Northern Territory Senate.

At the 2019 Australian federal election, the party drew first position in Queensland and New South Wales Senate tickets. Following the election, on 26 June 2019, the party was voluntarily deregistered by the Australian Electoral Commission.[24]

Federal parliament edit

House of Representatives
Election year # of
overall votes
% of
overall vote
# of
overall seats won
+/–
2013 48,582 0.38(#9/32)
0 / 150
  0
2016 68,418 0.51(#10/45)
0 / 150
  0
2019 14,032 0.10 (#18/35)
0 / 150
  0
Senate
Election year # of
overall votes
% of
overall vote
# of
overall seats won
# of
overall seats
+/–
2013 49,341 0.37(#20/49)
0 / 40
0 / 76
  0
2016 36,472 0.26(#24/49)
0 / 40
0 / 76
  0
2019 64,344 0.44(#15/45)
0 / 40
0 / 76
  0

State Election edit

Victorian Legislative Assembly
Election year # of
overall votes
% of
overall vote
# of
overall seats won
+/–
2014 20,795 0.62(#8/16)
0 / 88
  0
Victorian Legislative Council
Election year # of
overall votes
% of
overall vote
# of
overall seats won
# of
overall seats
+/–
2014 17,674 0.52(#15/19)
0 / 40
0 / 76
  0

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Australian election 2019: How to avoid voting for a terrible micro party in the Senate". TheGuardian.com. 10 May 2019.
  2. ^ a b Layt, Stuart (24 April 2019). "'Confronting' Queensland Senate ticket sees far-right on far-left". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 27 April 2019.
  3. ^ Hutchinson, Jade (15 July 2019). "The New-Far-Right Movement in Australia". Terrorism and Political Violence. 33 (7): 1424–1446. doi:10.1080/09546553.2019.1629909. ISSN 0954-6553. S2CID 199182383.
  4. ^ Change name. "Federal elections - Australian Electoral Commission". Aec.gov.au. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
  5. ^ "Rise Up Australia » Manifesto". Riseupaustraliaparty.com. 20 June 2014. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
  6. ^ "Black Saturday | Australian Broadcasting Corporation". Abc.net.au. 7 February 2009. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
  7. ^ "Archived copy". www.smh.com.au. Archived from the original on 12 February 2009. Retrieved 14 January 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  8. ^ "Are the QLD floods the result of Kevin Rudd speaking against Israel? at Catch The Fire Ministries". Catchthefire.com.au. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
  9. ^ a b "Rise Up Australia » Policy Principles". Riseupaustraliaparty.com. 20 February 1991. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
  10. ^ "MP3 file popcast" (MP3). Riseupaustraliaparty.com. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
  11. ^ "Rise Up Australia » Same-Sex Marriage". Riseupaustraliaparty.com. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
  12. ^ "Rise Up Australia » Energy Policy (Under Construction)". Riseupaustraliaparty.com. 20 June 2014. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
  13. ^ "Rise Up Australia - Animal Cruelty".
  14. ^ "Rise Up Australia". Riseupaustraliaparty.com. 9 August 2016. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
  15. ^ "'Evil spells are being cast on parliament'". News.com.au. 12 October 2009. Archived from the original on 18 January 2015. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
  16. ^ Hayden Cooper (11 February 2013). "Australia's newest political party courts controversial speaker". Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
  17. ^ Tory Shepherd. "New political party Rise Up Australia wants 'Muslim intake' cuts". The Advertiser (Adelaide).
  18. ^ Bormann, Trevor (5 September 2013). "Bitter dispute erupts over Senate preferences in Queensland". ABC News. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
  19. ^ "Alliance of Micro Parties Boosts Odds for Likes of One Nation or Shooters and Fishers Gaining Senate Spot Through Preferences". Dailytelegraph.com.au. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
  20. ^ "Rise Up Australia Party - Timeline". Facebook. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
  21. ^ "Rise Up Australia Party Voluntary Deregistration" (PDF). Australian Electoral Commission. Retrieved 28 June 2019.
  22. ^ "Federal elections - Australian Electoral Commission". Aec.gov.au. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
  23. ^ "Candidates for the 2016 federal election". Australian Electoral Commission. 12 June 2016. Retrieved 12 June 2016.
  24. ^ "Rise Up Australia Party Voluntary Deregistration" (PDF). Australian Electoral Commission. Retrieved 29 June 2019.