The Local Network, formerly known as The Local Party of Australia, is an Australian political party. The party was founded in 2021 and is mainly active in the state of Tasmania, but does have a presence in South Australia.
History
The party was founded by former Jacqui Lambie staffer Anna Bateman, Leanne Minshull from The Australia Institute think tank, and fisherman Craig Garland, who ran for the senate as an independent at the 2019 federal election. The party focuses on hyper-local issues, and aims to hold citizens assemblies to develop policies. The party was formally registered with the Australian Electoral Commission on 9 March 2022.
Ahead of the 2022 federal election, the party was endorsed by 3 trade unions, including 2 who are affiliated with the Labor Party.
The party contested the lower house seats of Braddon and Franklin, receiving 1.02% and 4.96% of the vote respectively. In the senate, they had 1.44% of the vote in Tasmania. In SA, veterans advocate Julie-Ann Finney led the ticket, which received 0.21% of the vote.
Climate 200, which supported the campaigns of a number of teal independents, also supported the party's senate campaign.
In May 2023, the party was renamed to The Local Network and applied to the Australian Electoral Commission and Tasmanian Electoral Commission to have the name formally changed.
The party has been criticised by psephologist Kevin Bonham for describing its candidates as independents.
References
2021 establishments in Australia
Localism (politics) Political parties established in 2021 Political parties in Australia Political parties in Tasmania