Australian Motoring Enthusiast Party

The Australian Motoring Enthusiast Party was a political party in Australia from 2013 to 2017. Ricky Muir held a seat for the party in the Australian Senate from 2013 to 2016. The party voluntarily de-registered with the AEC on 8 February 2017.[1]

Australian Motoring Enthusiast Party
Founded11 May 2013
Dissolved8 February 2017
HeadquartersLevel 5, Toowong Tower, 9 Sherwood Road, Toowong, Queensland
Colours  Blue

History

The Australian Motoring Enthusiast Party (AMEP) was formed on 11 May 2013 in Queensland at a public meeting of motoring enthusiasts.[2] The formation of the party followed moves by state governments, particularly in Queensland, to toughen anti-hooning and vehicle impoundment legislation.[3]

The Australian Electoral Commission registered the party on 9 July 2013.[4]

Formation and structure

The AMEP's structure included State Councils and a Central Executive.[5] The Queensland State Council and the Central Executive were formed when the party was established on 11 May 2013. At that point the Central Executive was made up of the Queensland State Council's office bearers.

The first Annual General Meeting of the AMEP was held on 11 July 2013.[6] The Queensland State Council office bearers were returned as the Central Executive's office bearers.

The Victorian State Council was formed on 17 July 2013.[7] The Western Australian State Council was formed on 23 July 2013.[8] The New South Wales State Council was formed on 7 August 2013.[9]

The Victorian State Council was suspended by the party's executive in October 2013 over claims that it had set up a Facebook page without permission and had engaged in what ABC News reported as being labelled "illegal and unauthorised use of AMEP identification, confidential information, incorrect policy announcements, and the misuse of the party brand". The former chairman of the Victorian State Council, Scott McDonald, told the ABC that it was unclear why the action had been taken.[10]

2013 Federal election

The party endorsed Senate candidates in the 2013 Federal Election in New South Wales, South Australia, Queensland, Victoria and Western Australia. The party has been involved in Glenn Druery's Minor Party Alliance.[11][12]

Ricky Muir represented AMEP in Victoria and won a seat in the senate after preference distribution from a record-low primary vote of 0.51 percent or 17,122 first preferences[13][14][15] he assumed his seat on 1 July 2014. Larger parties including the incoming government are looking at changes to the group voting ticket system.[16][17][18]

On 10 October 2013 Muir announced he would enter into an alliance with the Palmer United Party.[19]

Muir's senior adviser was electoral consultant Glenn Druery, but he was sacked by Muir less than a month later and was escorted out of Parliament. Muir stated that Druery did not "get along with the staff".[20] Muir also hired former New South Wales state politician Peter Breen to advise him on legislation.[21][22]

Muir lost his seat at the federal election held on 2 July 2016,[23] leaving the AMEP without any representation in the federal parliament.

See also

References
  1. "Australian Motoring Enthusiast Party". Australian Electoral Commission. Retrieved 9 February 2017.
  2. "AMEP - About". Archived from the original on 22 August 2014. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  3. "Australian Motoring Enthusiast Party Forms". Archived from the original on 26 February 2014. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  4. "Register Of Political Parties : The Australian Motoring Enthusiast Party" (PDF). Aec.gov.au. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
  5. "The Australian Motoring Enthusiast Party Constitution - April 2013". Archived from the original on 13 February 2014. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  6. "AMEP Annual General Meeting 2013". Archived from the original on 14 October 2013. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  7. Scott McDonald. "Victorian State Council of AMEP Established". Archived from the original on 28 February 2014. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  8. "Western Australian State Council Established". 25 July 2013. Archived from the original on 26 July 2014. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  9. Matthew Midson (8 August 2013). "New South Wales State Council Established". Archived from the original on 18 August 2013.
  10. Caldwell, Alison (8 October 2013). "Australian Motoring Enthusiast Party closes Victorian branch over 'blatant disregard' for national executive". ABC News. Retrieved 9 October 2013.
  11. Bormann, Trevor (5 September 2013). "Bitter dispute erupts over Senate preferences in Queensland". ABC News. Retrieved 7 June 2016.
  12. Wood, Alicia (5 September 2013). "Alliance of micro parties boosts odds for likes of One Nation or Shooters and Fishers gaining Senate spot through preferences". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 7 June 2016.
  13. "Senate Results: Victoria". ABC News. Retrieved 7 June 2016.
  14. "Motoring Enthusiasts Party member Ricky Muir wins Senate seat". ABC News. October 2013. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
  15. "Antony Green's Election Blog". Blogs.abc.net.au. 11 October 2011. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
  16. "ELECTION: Coalition shy of Senate majority". Businessspectator.com.au. 8 September 2013. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
  17. Harrison, Dan (9 September 2013). "Tony Abbott fires a warning shot at micro parties in the Senate". Archived from the original on 31 January 2016. Retrieved 7 June 2016.
  18. "Xenophon wants voting reform". News.ninesn.com.au. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
  19. "Clive Palmer issues warning to Government as Motoring Enthusiast Ricky Muir joins Senate voting bloc". Abc.net.au. 9 October 2013. Retrieved 13 October 2013.
  20. Aston, Heath (1 August 2014). "Senator Ricky Muir sacks chief of staff Glenn Druery". The Age. Retrieved 7 June 2016.
  21. Knott, Matthew (9 June 2014). "Novice politician Ricky Muir undone by a veteran in the business or questionable tactics?". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 7 June 2016.
  22. Aston, Heath (2 July 2014). "Muir hires ex-pollie to help with legislation". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 10 July 2014.
  23. "Senator Ricky Muir". Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 4 August 2016.
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