Australian political parties are required to have a constitution. I couldn't find the constitution of the Australian Democrats on their website. That great repository of knowledge, australianpolitics.com, had it.

Party Constitution

A party's constitution is the document that governs the internal process of the party. It also covers the conduct of those in the party. The constitution lays out the Australian Democrat's objectives;

• 3.1 To be beholden to no group or groups in the community but to serve the best interests of all Australians.
• 3.2 To accept the challenges of the predicament of mankind on the planet with its exponentially increasing population, disappearing finite resources and accelerating deterioration of the environment.
• 3.3 To recognise the interdependence of all people and nations, to co-operate with the United Nations, and to accept our obligation to the developing countries by co-operating with them in their social and economic development and quest for environmental protection.
• 3.4 To seek the transition to a sustainable economy, in equilibrium with world resources and ecosystems, with a minimum of dislocation by planning and increasing public awareness of the problems.
• 3.5 To be even-handed to employee and employer, and reconcile their real interests by encouraging industrial democracy and other appropriate forms of co-operation.
• 3.6 To foster greater understanding and equity between city and country dwellers.
• 3.7 To stimulate the development of a multi-faceted national culture, with full opportunity for all groups to contribute.
• 3.8 To further unite the people of Australia by co-operative, indicative national planning, taking into account social, economic and environmental objectives.
• 3.9 To seek improvement in the quality of human relationships in all aspects of society and the economy, through honesty, tolerance, compassion and a sense of mutual obligation.
• 3.10 To decentralise power, to oppose its concentration in the hands of sectional groups, and to ensure that the power of large groups or bureaucracies is not allowed to override the interests of individuals or smaller groups.
• 3.11 To achieve and defend effective participatory democracy and open government by appropriate constitutional, parliamentary and governmental reforms.
• 3.12 By supporting existing rural and provincial industries and in other ways, to stem, and finally reverse, the flow of population to the cities.
• 3.13 In social and health services to emphasise prevention rather than cure.
• 3.14 To foster community activities and the growth of community spirit, bringing government and health and social services closer to the people.
• 3.15 To enable people to pursue their own way of life so long as they do not interfere with the rights of others.
• 3.16 To provide throughout life an education for living as well as for earning a living.
• 3.17 To ensure ready access to the media for public communication.
• 3.18 To ensure that the basic needs of all people are securely met, and to distribute income, wealth, social services and opportunity more equitably without undermining either incentive or self-respect.
• 3.19 To encourage individual initiative and enterprise and to recognise the need for self-fulfilment.
• 3.20 Animals should be protected from cruelty and exploitation.
• 3.21 To recognise the rights of all peoples to self-determination.
• 3.22 To ensure the maintenance of biodiversity, to protect threatened species and to provide for better habitat protection.
• 3.23 To seek the election to Parliament of members committed to the objectives of the Party.

From a quick glance of those objectives it is easy to see why the Democrats are perceived as left-leaning party. Many of the objectives such as animal cruelty, biodiversity, recognition of sustainable economics and population issues are all platforms of the Greens. Labor also courts those votes when it needs wider left support as well.

The Democrats are having issues differentiating themselves from the more shrill and absolutist Greens. They are also encroaching on the large Labor Party's leftist territory as well. Without the weight of Labor, and the Greens having the environmentalist vote wrapped up, it is not a surprise the Democrats have their message lost in the din.

I have written in the past that I think the Democrats should return to being a party of democracy ; of freedom, liberty and inalienable rights. Without a Bill of Rights to protect us, we need a party devoted to that cause in parliament.

Issues such as biodiversity, sustainable economy etc can be left to the factions devoted to it; ie the Greens. If the Democratic membership believes in that issue they can support the Greens on it without it having to become a part of the party constitution or platform. This focuses the Democrat message to freedom and liberty while still maintaining wider commitments in policy.

Membership

Branch stacking is an issue in the Liberal and Labor Party. Malcolm Turnball's recent candidacy came from bringing in a large enough number of ringers and mates so that his pre-selection was assured. The Australian Democrats contain a clause in their constitution which appears to be in part to protect against that;

14.9 of this constitution and subject to this Constitution and its Regulations. Members who have been enrolled for less than six months shall be known as non-voting members. If no opposition to an application has been expressed during the first six months of enrolment, the member becomes a voting member. A petition for the purposes of this regulation is considered to be a party ballot.

The Australian Democrats have a very open system of party participation. This is probably also to protect against am extreme group or faction coming in en-masse and skewing the vote on a single issue.

The Party is divided up into a National Executive, Divisions and Branches. An individual can only belong to one division and one branch. Enrolment in a division/branch is based on an individuals residential address.

Members Rights and Responsibilities

When the Democrats were founded by Don Chip and other New Liberals, one of the goals was to make a more participatory party caucus. This can be seen in one of the clauses for a Members Rights and Responsibilities;

Members shall be entitled, subject to the Party's Constitution and Regulations, to:

• Have equal say in the determination of the Party's policies and, as far as is practicable, be consulted over their application to legislation;

It is possible the recent leftward slant of the Democrats is a result of their open and participatory policies. A product of their members, rather than the focused message of a campaign manager. If the purpose of a party is to win seats in parliament, than the members themselves have to think like campaign managers in their policies. It is possible that the policy platform of the Democrats has meant there is little to no room for them in the wider electorate.

Policy is not permanent however;

• 9.1 Policies shall be formulated with the maximum participation of members and shall finally be determined by the direct and equal say of the membership by a voluntary postal vote.
• 9.1.1 A policy ballot shall be determined by a simple majority of those voting in such ballot.
• 9.1.2 once five years have elapsed following the balloting and declaration of a policy, that policy is automatically deemed to be under review and ceases to be official policy.

Party discipline is active in the Democrats;

4.9 A member shall be permitted to communicate directly or indirectly with the news media concerning the internal affairs of a Branch, a Division or the Party only as formally authorised by the governing body of such Branch or Division or the National Executive, respectively.

Disunity is a wedge the media loves to carry around and bludgeon parties with.

Candidates

The constitution contains the criteria candidates for parliament must have;

11.2.27 The criteria for assessing applications for endorsement shall include:

• eligibility to nominate and be elected, according to the appropriate Federal or State legislation, including citizenship, bankruptcy and criminal record;
• personal qualities;
• party involvement;
• community involvement;
• knowledge of party policy;
• public speaking skills;
• media skills;
• employment history;
• campaigning skills;
• understanding and suitability for Parliamentary work.

Representatives of the Australian Democrats are allowed to conscience vote. They may differ from party policy on these issues. However before an individual becomes a candidate they must sign a document that they will follow party policy unless there is a strong conscientious objection to that policy. If a representative does vote against party policy they must furnish a reason to their division executive as to why.

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