Young Nationals (Australia)

Young Nationals
President Daniel Banks
Founded 1970
Headquarters 7 National Circuit, Barton, ACT, 2600
Ideology Conservatism
Agrarianism
Mother party National Party of Australia
Website youngnationals.org.au
Young Nationals at 2015 Federal Conference in Canberra

The Young Nationals, is the youth division of the National Party of Australia, and membership is open to those between 18 and 35 years of age. Young Nationals also have full party membership, and partake in state and federal conferences with equal rights to members of the senior party. They are active in National Party campaigning during all state and federal elections.

The movement is predominantly organised on the state division level, with each state organising its own events and policy as well as electing its own executive. In 2007 the Queensland Division of the Liberal Party of Australia and the Queensland National Party merged to become the Liberal National Party of Queensland (A division of the Federal Liberal Party and an affiliate of the Federal National Party). As part of this merger process, the Queensland Young Liberals and the Queensland Young Nationals were merged to become the Young Liberal National Party (Young LNP). The Young LNP is effectively the Queensland division of both the federal Young Liberals and the federal Young Nationals, and is the largest division of each of these movements. The federal executive of the Young Nationals comprises members elected from delegations from each affiliated state Young Nationals organisation, and the President of each affiliate. Policy can also be adopted by the movement's federal body. These policies are often then advocated by the Federal Young Nationals on the floor of the Federal Council of the National Party of Australia, as well as in representations made directly to members of parliament.

Political Impact

Politically, the Young Nationals have had an increasingly significant impact on overall National Party policy and machinations in recent years. Young Nationals notably changed the party platform to oppose any form of mandatory ISP-level internet censorship[1] and have also expressed strong federalist sentiments, having spearheaded a push to abolish the national curriculum.[2] The Young Nationals also voted on a motion to support same-sex marriage and free votes on the issue.[3][4] The movement has also been one of the stronger elements in the National Party that has expressed support for voluntary student unionism,[5][6] eventually persuading Senator Fiona Nash to ditch the parliamentary party's opposition to VSU.[7]

Current Federal Executive

Position Office-bearer State
President Daniel Banks Northern Territory (CLP)
Vice-President Alessia Maruca Queensland (LNP)
Secretary Nat Openshaw New South Wales
Treasurer Alysia Smith New South Wales
Policy Officer Brendan Tam Victoria
Campaigns Officer Kurt Tucker Queensland (LNP)
Fundraising Officer William Rollo Queensland (LNP)
Publicity Officer Douglas Rodgers Queensland (LNP)
Immediate Past President Ruby Cameron Victoria
New South Wales President Jock Sowter
Victorian President Rebecca Treloar
Northern Territory President (CLP) Vacant
Queensland President (LNP) Emma Taylor
South Australian President Matthew Gadsden
Western Australian President Heather York

Past presidents

Year President State
2014 - 2018 Ruby Cameron Victoria
2011–2014 Cr Cameron O'Neil Queensland
2009–2011 The Hon. Sarah Mitchell MLC New South Wales
2008–2009 The Hon. Martin Aldridge MLC Western Australia
2006–2008 Damian Callachor New South Wales
2004–2006 Chris Kahler Queensland
2002–2004 Tim Dixon New South Wales
2001–2002 Scott Mitchell Victoria
1999–2000 Stuart Copeland Queensland
1998–1999 Robert Macaulay New South Wales
1997–1998 Douglas Doyle New South Wales
1996–1997 Donald Burnett Queensland
1994–1996 Meredith Dickie Victoria
1992–1994 Daniel Kelliher Victoria
1991–1992 Duncan Anderson Western Australia
1989–1991 Angus Calder New South Wales
1988–1989 Aldo Borgu Western Australia
1987–1988 Judy Brewer Victoria
1985–1987 Julian Anderson Queensland
1983–1985 Gerard Walsh Queensland
1981–1983 Nigel Smith New South Wales
1979–1981 Michael Behan ?
1977–1979 The Hon. Pat McNamara Victoria
1976–1977 Garry West New South Wales
1975–1976 Gary Pike Queensland
1968 The Hon. Mike Ahern AO Queensland

Entryism

In 2018, it was reported that members of the Alt-right movement infiltrated NSW Young Nationals with the goal of moving it further to the Right.[8][9]

References

  1. ↑ National Party says no to filter
  2. ↑ Nationals seek to axe single curriculum
  3. ↑
  4. ↑
  5. ↑ Nats call for changes to VSU\
  6. ↑
  7. ↑
  8. ↑ http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-10-13/alt-right-plans-shake-up-of-mainstream-politics-in-australia/10368972
  9. ↑ https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/oct/15/nsw-young-nationals-expel-and-suspend-members-over-far-right-links
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