Independent politicians in Australia
An Independent politician is an individual politician not affiliated to any political party. There are numerous reasons why someone may stand for office as an independent.
- Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties. Sometimes they hold a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, have an ideology comprising ideas from both sides of the political spectrum, or may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do not feel that any major party addresses.
- Other independent politicians may be associated with a political party, be former members of it, or have views that align with it, but choose not to stand under its label. Others may belong to or support a political party but believe they should not formally represent it and thus be subject to its policies.
Federal
Independents have rarely been elected to the federal Parliament of Australia, although they are more commonly elected to state parliaments. A large number of independents are former members of one of Australia's main parties, the Australian Labor Party, the Liberal Party of Australia and the National Party of Australia. On 16 July 2013 a political party named the Australian Independents was registered with the Australian Electoral Commission. It was deregistered on 4 February 2016.[1]
Currently, two independents sit in the Australian House of Representatives, Andrew Wilkie from Denison in Tasmania (former Greens candidate) and Cathy McGowan from Indi in Victoria.
Independent Senators are quite rare. In modern politics, independent Brian Harradine served from 1975 to 2005 with considerable influence at times. Nick Xenophon was an elected independent Senator from his election to the Senate at the 2007 federal election. Xenophon was re-elected for another six-year term at the 2013 federal election.[2] He was re-elected at the 2016 double dissolution election under the Nick Xenophon Team. DLP Senator John Madigan became an independent Senator in September 2014,[3] but failed to be re-elected at the 2016 election. PUP Senators Jacqui Lambie and Glenn Lazarus became independent Senators in November 2014 and March 2015.[4][5] At the 2016 election, Lazarus lost his seat and Lambie was re-elected under the Jacqui Lambie Network. There are currently no independent senators.
House of Representatives
Won election as independent
Member | Electorate | Term | Notes |
Alexander Paterson | Capricornia, Qld | 1901–1903 | Independent Free Trade. |
James Wilkinson | Moreton, Qld | 1901–1904 | Independent Labour. Joined Labour caucus in 1904. |
Sir Frederick Holder | South Australia; Wakefield, SA | 1901–1909 | Elected as a Free Trader; became an independent on election as inaugural Speaker. |
George Fairbairn | Fawkner, Vic | 1906–1909 | Part of the independent "Corner group". Joined the Liberal Party at the Fusion in 1909. |
Sir John Quick | Bendigo, Vic | 1906–1909 | Part of the independent "Corner group"; formerly a Protectionist from 1901 to 1906. Joined the Liberal Party at the Fusion in 1909. |
Sydney Sampson | Wimmera, Vic | 1906–1909 | Part of the independent "Corner group". Joined the Liberal Party at the Fusion in 1909. |
Agar Wynne | Balaclava, Vic | 1906–1909 | Part of the independent "Corner group". Joined the Liberal Party at the Fusion in 1909. |
Sir William Lyne | Hume, NSW | 1909–1913 | A Protectionist who refused to join the Liberal Party at the Fusion of 1909. |
George Wise | Gippsland, Vic | 1909–1913, 1914–1916 | A Protectionist who refused to join the Liberal Party at the Fusion of 1909. Joined the Nationalist Party in 1916. |
Frederick Francis | Henty, Vic | 1919–1922 | Independent Nationalist. Joined the Nationalist Party in 1922. |
William Watson | Fremantle, WA | 1922–1928 | Later held the seat for a term representing the United Australia Party. |
Percy Stewart | Wimmera, Vic | 1925–1926, 1930–1931 | Defected from the Country Party; later formed the Country Progressive Party (1926–1930). |
William McWilliams | Franklin, Tas | 1928–1929 | Previously served as a Revenue Tariffist, Liberal, Nationalist, and as the first leader of the Country Party. |
Billy Hughes | North Sydney, NSW | 1929–1930 | Originally a Labor member and then a Nationalist, resigned to cross the floor to bring down the Bruce Government. Formed the Australian Party in 1930, which merged with the United Australia Party in 1931. |
Walter Marks | Wentworth, NSW | 1929–1930 | A Nationalist who crossed the floor to bring down the Bruce Government. Joined the Australian Party in 1930, and then was defeated as a United Australia Party candidate in 1931. |
George Maxwell | Fawkner, Vic | 1929–1930 | A Nationalist who crossed the floor to bring down the Bruce Government. Joined the Australian Party in 1930, and then the United Australia Party in 1931. |
Sir Littleton Groom | Darling Downs, Qld | 1929, 1931–1933 | As the Nationalist Speaker of the House, refused to use his casting vote to save the Bruce Government. Defeated as an independent in 1929, but re-elected in 1931. Admitted to the United Australia Party in 1933. |
Adair Blain | Northern Territory | 1934–1949 | As the member for the Northern Territory, only had the right to vote on matters directly relating to the Territory. |
Percy Spender | Warringah, NSW | 1937–1938 | Independent United Australia Party. Defeated the endorsed UAP candidate and joined the party soon afterwards. |
Alexander Wilson | Wimmera, Vic | 1937–1945 | Independent Country Party. A member of the United Country Party but sat in parliament as an independent. |
Arthur Coles | Henty, Vic | 1940–1941, 1941–1945 | Briefly joined the United Australia Party in 1941. |
Doris Blackburn | Bourke, Vic | 1946–1949 | Independent Labor. First female federal independent MP. |
Lewis Nott | Australian Capital Territory | 1949–1951 | As the member for the Australian Capital Territory, could only vote on matters directly affecting the Territory. Previously the Nationalist member for Herbert in Queensland from 1925 to 1928. |
Sam Benson | Batman, Vic | 1966–1969 | Expelled from the Labor Party for supporting continued Australian involvement in the Vietnam War. |
Ted Mack | North Sydney, NSW | 1990–1996 | |
Phil Cleary | Wills, Vic | 1992, 1993–1996 | Disqualified in 1992. |
Peter Andren | Calare, NSW | 1996–2007 | |
Graeme Campbell | Kalgoorlie, WA | 1995–1996 | Expelled from the Labor Party for supporting Australians Against Further Immigration. Formed the Australia First Party in 1996. |
Paul Filing | Moore, WA | 1996–1998 | Lost Liberal preselection and ran as an independent. |
Pauline Hanson | Oxley, Qld | 1996–1997 | Disendorsed Liberal. Formed One Nation in 1997. |
Allan Rocher | Curtin, WA | 1996–1998 | Lost Liberal preselection and ran as an independent. |
Bob Katter | Kennedy, Qld | 2001–2011 | Resigned from the National Party in 2001. Formed Katter's Australian Party in 2011. |
Tony Windsor | New England, NSW | 2001–2013 | |
Rob Oakeshott | Lyne, NSW | 2008–2013 | |
Andrew Wilkie | Denison, Tas | 2010–present | |
Cathy McGowan | Indi, Vic | 2013–present | |
Not elected as independent
Member | Electorate | Term | Notes |
Thomas Macdonald-Paterson | Brisbane, Qld | 1903 | Lost Protectionist preselection. |
Norman Cameron | Wilmot, Tas | 1906 | Lost Anti-Socialist preselection. |
James Ronald | Southern Melbourne, Vic | 1906 | Seat abolished; lost Labor preselection for Melbourne Ports. |
David Storrer | Bass, Tas | 1909–1910 | Protectionist who refused to join the Liberal Party at the Fusion of 1909. |
Jens Jensen | Bass, Tas | 1919 | Lost Nationalist preselection. |
Bruce Smith | Parkes, NSW | 1919 | Lost Nationalist preselection. |
William Higgs | Capricornia, Qld | 1920 | Expelled from the Labor Party. Joined the Nationalist Party eight months later. |
Alexander Hay | New England, NSW | 1922 | Expelled from the Country Party. |
Edward Mann | Perth, WA | 1929 | Nationalist who crossed the floor to defeat the Bruce government. |
Maurice Blackburn | Bourke, Vic | 1937, 1941–1943 | Expelled (twice) from the Labor Party. |
Thomas Marwick | Swan, WA | 1943 | Lost Country Party preselection. |
Max Falstein | Watson, NSW | 1949 | Expelled from the Labor Party. |
Charles Russell | Maranoa, Qld | 1950–1951 | Resigned from the Country Party. |
Cyril Chambers | Adelaide, SA | 1957–1958 | Expelled from the Labor Party for attacking H. V. Evatt's leadership. Readmitted the following year. |
Charles Morgan | Reid, NSW | 1958 | Lost Labor preselection. |
Edward St John | Warringah, NSW | 1969 | Resigned from the Liberal Party. |
Jeff Bate | Macarthur, NSW | 1972 | Lost Liberal preselection. |
Alexander Buchanan | McMillan, Vic | 1972 | Lost Liberal preselection. |
John Gorton | Higgins, Vic | 1975 | Resigned from the Liberal Party; contested the Senate in the Australian Capital Territory. |
Don Chipp | Hotham, Vic | 1977 | Resigned from the Liberal Party; about three months later, formed the Australian Democrats. Elected to the Senate in 1977. |
Bill Wentworth | Mackellar, NSW | 1977 | Resigned from the Liberal Party and contested the Senate. |
Keith Wright | Capricornia, Qld | 1993 | Expelled from the Labor Party. |
Tony Smith | Dickson, Qld | 1998 | Lost Liberal preselection. |
Paul Zammit | Lowe, NSW | 1998 | Resigned from the Liberal Party. |
Andrew Theophanous | Calwell, Vic | 2000–2001 | Resigned from the Labor Party. |
Peter King | Wentworth, NSW | 2004 | Lost Liberal preselection. |
Gavan O'Connor | Corio, Vic | 2007 | Lost Labor preselection. |
Harry Quick | Franklin, Tas | 2007 | Expelled from the Labor Party. |
Michael Johnson | Ryan, Qld | 2010 | Expelled from the Liberal National Party. |
Peter Slipper | Fisher, Qld | 2011–2013 | Resigned from the Liberal National Party on election as Speaker. |
Craig Thomson | Dobell, NSW | 2012–2013 | Expelled from the Labor Party. |
Senate
Won election or appointed as independent
Not elected as independent
States and territories
New South Wales
New South Wales Legislative Assembly
Won election as independent
Not elected as independent
Member | Electorate | Term | Notes |
Clive Evatt | Hurstville | 1956–1959 | Expelled from the Labor Party in July 1956. |
Alfred Dennis | Blacktown | 1962 | Resigned from the Liberal Party in 1962 after losing preselection for a safer seat. |
Ben Doig | Burwood | 1964–1965 | Resigned from the Liberal Party in 1964 after losing preselection. |
Bill Chaffey | Tamworth | 1972–1973 | Resigned from the Country Party in 1972. |
Laurie McGinty | Willoughby | 1977–1978 | Resigned from the Liberal Party in September 1977 after losing preselection to recontest his seat. |
Max Smith | Pittwater | 1984–1986 | Resigned from the Liberal Party in 1984. Resigned from parliament in 1986. |
Terry Metherell | Davidson | 1991–1992 | Resigned from the Liberal Party in October 1991. Resigned from parliament in April 1992. |
Terry Griffiths | Georges River | 1994–1995 | Resigned from the Liberal Party in October 1994. |
Steven Pringle | Hawkesbury | 2006–2007 | Resigned from the Liberal Party in October 2006 after losing preselection for the 2007 election. |
Milton Orkopoulos | Swansea | 2006 | Expelled from the Labor Party on 8 November 2006 after being charged with child sex offences. Resigned from parliament under threat of an expulsion vote on 13 November. |
Steven Chaytor | Macquarie Fields | 2007 | Expelled from the Labor Party in January 2007. |
Bryce Gaudry | Newcastle | 2007 | Resigned from the Labor Party in January 2007 after losing preselection for the 2007 election. |
Chris Hartcher | Terrigal | 2014–2015 | Resigned from the Liberal parliamentary party due to Independent Commission Against Corruption investigations. Retired in 2015. |
Chris Spence | The Entrance | 2014–2015 | Resigned from the Liberal parliamentary party due to Independent Commission Against Corruption investigations. Retired in 2015. |
Darren Webber | Wyong | 2014–2015 | Resigned from the Liberal parliamentary party due to Independent Commission Against Corruption investigations. Retired in 2015. |
Andrew Cornwell | Charlestown | 2014 | Stood aside from the Liberal parliamentary party on 6 August 2014 due to Independent Commission Against Corruption investigations. Resigned from parliament on 12 August. |
Tim Owen | Newcastle | 2014 | Stood aside from the Liberal parliamentary party on 6 August 2014 due to Independent Commission Against Corruption investigations. Resigned from parliament on 12 August. |
Garry Edwards | Swansea | 2014–2015 | Stood aside from the Liberal parliamentary party in August 2014 due to Independent Commission Against Corruption investigations. Recontested the 2015 election as an independent and lost. |
Bart Bassett | Londonderry | 2014–2015 | Stood aside from the Liberal parliamentary party in August 2014 due to Independent Commission Against Corruption investigations. Retired in 2015. |
Craig Baumann | Port Stephens | 2014–2015 | Stood aside from the Liberal parliamentary party in September 2014 due to Independent Commission Against Corruption investigations. Retired in 2015. |
New South Wales Legislative Council
Elected as independent
All of these MPs were indirectly elected by MPs under the former system between 1934 and 1978.
Not elected as independent
Member | Term | Notes |
Thomas Murray | 1926–1958 | Expelled from the Labor Party in 1926. |
Hector Clayton | 1937–1973 | A United Australia Party member upon election, but subsequently resigned as he believed it should be a non-partisan house. |
Toby MacDiarmid | 1985–1989 | Resigned from the National Party in April 1985. |
Marie Bignold | 1988–1991 | Expelled from the Call to Australia Party in November 1988. |
Richard Jones | 1996–2003 | Resigned from the Australian Democrats in March 1996. Did not face re-election in 1999. Retired in 2003. |
Franca Arena | 1997–1999 | Expelled from the Labor Party in November 1997 after her unsubstantiated accusations of pedophilia led to the suicide of a Supreme Court judge. |
Helen Sham-Ho | 1998–1999 | Resigned from the Liberal Party in June 1998. |
David Oldfield | 2000–2001, 2004–2007 | Expelled from One Nation in October 2000. Founded One Nation NSW in 2001. Resigned from One Nation NSW in December 2004 and served out his term as an independent. |
Gordon Moyes | 2009 | Expelled from the Christian Democratic Party in March 2009. Joined the Family First Party in November 2009. |
Eric Roozendaal | 2012–2013 | Suspended from the Labor Party in November 2012. Resigned from parliament in May 2013. |
Marie Ficarra | 2014–2015 | Stood aside from the Liberal parliamentary party in April 2014 due to Independent Commission Against Corruption investigations. Retired in 2015. |
Mike Gallacher | 2014–present | Stood aside from the Liberal parliamentary party in May 2014 due to Independent Commission Against Corruption investigations. |
Victoria
Victorian Legislative Assembly
Won election as independent
Not elected as independent
Member | Electorate | Term | Notes |
Charles Francis | Caulfield | 1977–1979 | Expelled from the Liberal Party after abstaining on an opposition no-confidence motion. |
Doug Jennings | Westernport | 1977–1979 | Expelled from the Liberal Party after abstaining on an opposition no-confidence motion. |
Harley Dickinson | South Barwon | 1992 | Resigned from the Liberal Party in May 1992 after losing preselection for the 1992 election. |
Peter McLellan | Frankston East | 1998–1999 | Resigned from the Liberal Party in July 1998. Died on the day of the 1999 election while recontesting as an independent. |
Geoff Shaw | Frankston | 2013–2014 | Resigned from the Liberal Party in March 2013. |
Victorian Legislative Council
Not elected as independent
Queensland
Queensland Legislative Assembly
Won election as independent
Not elected as independent
Member | Electorate | Term | Notes |
Frank Roberts | Nundah | 1953–1956 | Resigned from the Labor Party in 1953. |
Tom Foley | Belyando | 1956–1957 | Expelled from the Labor Party in 1956. Joined the Queensland Labor Party in 1957. |
Mick Gardner | Rockhampton | 1956–1957 | Expelled from the Labor Party in 1956. Joined the Queensland Labor Party in 1957. |
Alex Dewar | Wavell | 1968–1969 | Resigned from the Liberal Party in August 1968. |
Col Bennett | South Brisbane | 1972 | Lost Labor preselection in 1972 and expelled for running for re-election as an independent. |
Merv Thackeray | Rockhampton North | 1972 | Lost Labor preselection in 1972 and expelled for running for re-election as an independent. |
Lou Jensen | Bundaberg | 1977 | Resigned from the Labor Party after losing preselection for the 1977 election. |
Col Miller | Ithaca | 1984–1986 | Resigned from the Liberal Party in August 1984. |
Joe Kruger | Murrumba | 1986 | Resigned from the Labor Party in 1986 after losing preselection for the 1986 election. |
Eric Shaw | Manly | 1988–1989 | Resigned from the Labor Party in September 1988 after losing preselection for the 1989 election. |
Lin Powell | Isis | 1989 | Resigned from the National Party in June 1989. |
Geoff Muntz | Whitsunday | 1989 | Resigned from the National Party in November 1989. |
Shaun Nelson | Tablelands | 1999–2001 | Resigned from One Nation in February 1999. |
Ken Turner | Thuringowa | 1999–2001 | Resigned from One Nation in February 1999. |
Jeff Knuth | Burdekin | 1999 | Resigned from One Nation in February 1999. Founded the Country Party QLD in August 1999. |
Jim Elder | Capalaba | 2000–2001 | Resigned from the Labor Party in November 2000 in the wake of the Shepherdson Inquiry |
Grant Musgrove | Springwood | 2000–2001 | Resigned from the Labor Party in December 2000 in the wake of the Shepherdson Inquiry. |
Mike Kaiser | Woodridge | 2001 | Resigned from the Labor Party in January 2001 in the wake of the Shepherdson Inquiry |
Cate Molloy | Noosa | 2006 | Resigned from the Labor Party in August 2006 after losing preselection for the 2006 election |
Aidan McLindon | Beaudesert | 2010 | Resigned from the Liberal National Party in May 2010 and sat as an independent until his new party, The Queensland Party, was formally registered in August |
Rob Messenger | Burnett | 2010–2012 | Resigned from the Liberal National Party in May 2010. Defeated in 2012. |
Alex Douglas | Gaven | 2012–2013, 2014–2015 | Resigned from the Liberal National Party in November 2012 and sat as an independent until joining the Palmer United Party in April 2013. Resigned from the Palmer United Party in August 2014 and again sat as an independent until his defeat in 2015 |
Carl Judge | Yeerongpilly | 2012–2013, 2014–2015 | Resigned from the Liberal National Party in November 2012 and sat as an independent until joining the Palmer United Party in April 2013. Resigned from the Palmer United Party in October 2014 and again sat as an independent until his defeat in 2015 |
Scott Driscoll | Redcliffe | 2013 | Suspended from the Liberal National Party in March 2013. Resigned from parliament in November 2013. |
Billy Gordon | Cook | 2015–present | Expelled from the Labor Party in March 2015, remains in parliament as an independent. |
Rob Pyne | Cairns | 2016–present | Resigned from the Labor Party in March 2016, remains in parliament as an independent. |
Western Australia
Western Australian Legislative Assembly
Won election as independent
Not elected as independent
Western Australian Legislative Council
Won election as independent
Not elected as independent
South Australia
South Australian House of Assembly
Won election as independent
Not elected as independent
South Australian Legislative Council
Won election as independent
Not elected as independent
Tasmania
Upper house
Australian Capital Territory
Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly
Won election as independent
Member | Electorate | Term | Notes |
Michael Moore | Molonglo | 1989–2001 | Resigned from Residents Rally in October 1989. Re-elected on the "Moore Independents Group" ticket in 1992, 1995 and 1998. |
Helen Szuty | None | 1992–1995 | Elected on the "Moore Independents Group" ticket in 1992 and sat as an independent. Defeated in 1995. |
Paul Osborne | Brindabella | 1995–2001 | Elected on the "Osborne Independents Group" ticket in 1995 and re-elected in 1998. Defeated in 2001. |
Dave Rugendyke | Ginninderra | 1998–2001 | Elected on the "Osborne Independents Group" ticket in 1998. Defeated in 2001. |
Not elected as independent
Northern Territory
Northern Territory Legislative Assembly
Won election as independent
Not elected as independent
Member | Electorate | Term | Notes |
Rod Oliver | Alice Springs | 1979–1980 | Resigned from the CLP in August 1979 |
Ian Tuxworth | Barkly | 1986 | Expelled from the CLP in December 1986. Founded the Northern Territory Nationals two weeks later |
Col Firmin | Ludmilla | 1990 | Lost CLP preselection for the 1990 election |
Max Ortmann | Brennan | 1994 | Lost CLP preselection for the 1994 election |
Peter Maley | Goyder | 2005 | Expelled from the CLP in May 2005 |
Marion Scrymgour | Arafura | 2009 | Resigned from the ALP in June 2009. Rejoined the party in August. |
Alison Anderson | MacDonnell Namatjira | 2009–2011, 2014, 2014–2016 | Resigned from the ALP in August 2009 and sat as an independent before joining the CLP in September 2011. Re-elected as a CLP member in 2012. Resigned from the CLP in April 2014 and sat as an independent for two weeks before joining the Palmer United Party. Resigned from the PUP in November 2014 and again sat as an independent. |
Ross Bohlin | Drysdale | 2012 | Lost CLP preselection for the 2012 election |
Francis Xavier Kurrupuwu | Arafura | 2014 | Resigned from the CLP in April 2014. Rejoined the party in September. |
Larisa Lee | Arnhem | 2014–2016 | Resigned from the CLP in April 2014 and sat as an independent before joining the Palmer United Party two weeks later. Resigned from the PUP in November 2014 and again sat as an independent. |
Delia Lawrie | Karama | 2014–2016 | Resigned from the ALP in October 2015 after losing preselection for the 2016 election. |
Nathan Barrett | Blain | 2016 | Resigned from the CLP |
References