Independents Group
Encyclopedia
The Independents Group were a short-lived Australia
n political party
operating in the Australian Capital Territory
. They briefly served as part of the Alliance government, alongside the Liberal Party of Australia
and Residents Rally
.
When the 1989 election
was held, the No Self-Government Party
emerged as the larger of the two anti-self-government groups in the Assembly, electing three members, Craig Duby
, Carmel Maher
and David Prowse
. However, unlike Dennis Stevenson
's Abolish Self-Government Coalition, the No Self-Government Party's focus soon began to change from their original single-issue basis.
In late 1989, Residents Rally
, who were supporting the Follett
Labor
government, began discussions aimed at forming a coalition government with the Liberals, but the combined parties did not have the necessary seats in the Assembly. They then turned to the No Self-Government Party, who accepted the offer. However, as opposition to self-government itself was a core basis of their party, and it would have been seen as somewhat odd for them to then join a government, Duby, Maher and Prowse disbanded the party, and reformed as the Independents Group. The new party then became the third member of the Alliance government, and Duby, the old party's former leader, became Minister for Urban Services.
Whilst Duby was a vocal member of the government, and was often heard in the Assembly and media, both Prowse and Maher tended to be less significant players in ACT politics. Nevertheless, the party were vital in sustaining the Alliance government for its eighteen month lifespan. The Independents Group suffered a significant blow on July 31, 1990, when Prowse left to join the Liberal Party. As long as the Alliance survived, however, they nevertheless maintained influence in decision-making. This was to end when the Liberal Party and Residents Rally fell out in late 1991, causing Residents Rally to move a no-confidence motion in the government.
Soon after, on November 19, realising that the Independents Group was effectively dead, Duby quit the party to form the Hare-Clark Independent Party. With her influence in the Assembly reduced to practically nil, Maher continued under the Independents Group until the 1992 election
. Both Maher and Prowse retired at the election, and though Duby contested the election with his new party, he lost his seat. By the 1995 election
, the Independents Group was entirely dead, with none its members playing any further role in ACT politics.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n political party
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
operating in the Australian Capital Territory
Australian Capital Territory
The Australian Capital Territory, often abbreviated ACT, is the capital territory of the Commonwealth of Australia and is the smallest self-governing internal territory...
. They briefly served as part of the Alliance government, alongside the Liberal Party of Australia
Liberal Party of Australia
The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office...
and Residents Rally
Residents Rally
Residents Rally was an Australian political party, with four candidates elected to the first Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly at the 1989 Australian Capital Territory general election. Residents Rally were led by Canberra human rights barrister and lawyer, Bernard Collaery....
.
When the 1989 election
Australian Capital Territory legislative election, 1989
Elections to the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly were held on Saturday, 4 March 1989. This was the first direct election by voters in the Australian Capital Territory for their own legislative body....
was held, the No Self-Government Party
No Self-Government Party
The No Self-Government Party was a minor Australian Capital Territory political party that experienced limited success in the early years of the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly. Like Dennis Stevenson's Abolish Self-Government Coalition, it opposed self-government for the ACT...
emerged as the larger of the two anti-self-government groups in the Assembly, electing three members, Craig Duby
Craig Duby
Craig Duby was a politician in the .Australian Capital Territory. The decision of the Australian government to replace direct administration of the Territory with self-government was widely criticised...
, Carmel Maher
Carmel Maher
Carmel Anne Maher is an Australian politician. She was a member of the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly from 1989 to 1991, serving one term. She represented the No Self-Government Party and later the Independents Group....
and David Prowse
David Prowse (politician)
David Prowse, a former Australian politician, was the first Speaker of the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly.Prowse was a member of the first multi-member single electorate unicameral Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly representing, initially, the No Self-Government...
. However, unlike Dennis Stevenson
Dennis Stevenson
Dennis Stevenson was an Australian politician with the Abolish Self-Government Coalition party. He was elected to the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly in the inaugural 1989 ACT elections and served under the 1st and 2nd assemblies, retiring in 1995...
's Abolish Self-Government Coalition, the No Self-Government Party's focus soon began to change from their original single-issue basis.
In late 1989, Residents Rally
Residents Rally
Residents Rally was an Australian political party, with four candidates elected to the first Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly at the 1989 Australian Capital Territory general election. Residents Rally were led by Canberra human rights barrister and lawyer, Bernard Collaery....
, who were supporting the Follett
Rosemary Follett
Rosemary Follett AO , Australian politician, was the first Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory. She was the first woman to become head of government in an Australian state or territory....
Labor
Australian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
government, began discussions aimed at forming a coalition government with the Liberals, but the combined parties did not have the necessary seats in the Assembly. They then turned to the No Self-Government Party, who accepted the offer. However, as opposition to self-government itself was a core basis of their party, and it would have been seen as somewhat odd for them to then join a government, Duby, Maher and Prowse disbanded the party, and reformed as the Independents Group. The new party then became the third member of the Alliance government, and Duby, the old party's former leader, became Minister for Urban Services.
Whilst Duby was a vocal member of the government, and was often heard in the Assembly and media, both Prowse and Maher tended to be less significant players in ACT politics. Nevertheless, the party were vital in sustaining the Alliance government for its eighteen month lifespan. The Independents Group suffered a significant blow on July 31, 1990, when Prowse left to join the Liberal Party. As long as the Alliance survived, however, they nevertheless maintained influence in decision-making. This was to end when the Liberal Party and Residents Rally fell out in late 1991, causing Residents Rally to move a no-confidence motion in the government.
Soon after, on November 19, realising that the Independents Group was effectively dead, Duby quit the party to form the Hare-Clark Independent Party. With her influence in the Assembly reduced to practically nil, Maher continued under the Independents Group until the 1992 election
Australian Capital Territory legislative election, 1989
Elections to the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly were held on Saturday, 4 March 1989. This was the first direct election by voters in the Australian Capital Territory for their own legislative body....
. Both Maher and Prowse retired at the election, and though Duby contested the election with his new party, he lost his seat. By the 1995 election
Australian Capital Territory legislative election, 1989
Elections to the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly were held on Saturday, 4 March 1989. This was the first direct election by voters in the Australian Capital Territory for their own legislative body....
, the Independents Group was entirely dead, with none its members playing any further role in ACT politics.