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Fraser Anning's Conservative National Party
Fraser Anning's Conservative National Party
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Key Information

Fraser Anning's Conservative National Party, also known as the Conservative National Party or simply the Conservative Nationals, was a national-conservative political party in Australia, founded by Fraser Anning in April 2019 when he was a senator for Queensland.[3] Anning had previously been a member of One Nation and Katter's Australian Party, and sat as an independent before founding the new party.[2] The party contested the 2019 federal election, but failed to win a seat.[12]

The party was deregistered on 23 September 2020.

History

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Fraser Anning, the party's leader, c. 2018.

Defection from One Nation and Katter's Australian Party

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Fraser Anning stood as the third candidate on the One Nation list for Queensland at the 2016 federal election, with Pauline Hanson and Malcolm Roberts standing as the first and second candidates respectively. After Malcolm Roberts was found ineligible during the 2017–2018 eligibility crisis due to his dual citizenship, Anning was declared by the Court of Disputed Returns elected, replacing Roberts.[13] After a conflict with the party's chief of staff James Ashby over his choice of staff, Anning resigned from the party and was sworn in to the senate as an independent.[14]

Anning joined Katter's Australian Party in June 2018.[15] During his maiden speech, in August 2018, Anning proposed a "final solution to the immigration problem" with a referendum and a "European Christian" immigration system.[16] Despite initially supporting Anning's speech, the party expelled him two months later with Bob Katter labelling Anning's views as racist.[17]

Party foundation

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In January 2019, Anning applied to register Fraser Anning's Conservative National Party. The National Party and the Australian Conservatives objected to the name, arguing it was too similar to theirs and would cause confusion for voters. The Australian Electoral Commission responded that there was no real chance that electors would be left uncertain about which name attaches to which organisation due to inclusion of "Fraser Anning" in the name, which would additionally also result in distinct party abbreviations.[18][19]

The AEC approved the party's registration on 2 April 2019,[19] after the application for the formal abbreviation "Conservative Nationals" was withdrawn, in time for the party to contest the 2019 federal election.[3] Anning said he would be "announcing candidates across most lower house seats" and "running a Senate team in every state" for the election.

May 2019 federal election

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The party put up 70 candidates across both houses. These included several who have likened LGBTQI people to paedophiles, those who have been accused of animal cruelty, who have criticised single mothers and disability pensioners, and at least two who have criminal histories. One candidate, Scott Moerland, was a senior figure in the United Patriots Front and has links with Blair Cottrell and Neil Erikson, despite Anning's earlier claim that he would not endorse anyone associated with them. Their social media posts target immigrants from certain countries, Muslims, political correctness, LGBTQI people and ideas, and people and policies tackling climate change.[20] The party failed to win a seat; Anning himself did not get re-elected to the Senate.[21][22]

Deregistration

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The party was deregistered on 23 September 2020, under Section 137(4) of the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918.[23]

Ideology and policies

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Anning himself has been described as far-right, a nationalist and a right-wing populist.[6][24][25][26][7] He attended a far-right rally in Melbourne for which he claimed almost $3000 in expenses from the government. At the rally he made claims about an "African gang problem" in Queensland, claims that were rejected by Queensland's police commissioner.[27] He also blamed Muslim immigration for terrorism,[28][29][30] calling for an "end [to] all immigration from Muslim and black African nations".[31] The party believes in the white genocide conspiracy theory. On its Facebook page, a post called for the preservation of "our ethno-cultural identity, or we will fast become a minority".[32] Its stated policies include:[30]

Federal parliament

[edit]
House of Representatives
Election year # of
overall votes
% of
overall vote
# of
overall seats won
+/– Government
2019 77,203 0.54 (#8)
0 / 150
Steady
Senate
Election year # of
overall votes
% of
overall vote
# of
overall seats won
# of
overall seats
+/– Notes
2019 94,130 0.64 (#14)
0 / 40
0 / 76
Steady

Controversies

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Cronulla assault

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On 26 April 2019, during the 2019 Federal Election campaign, Anning used the site of the 2005 Cronulla race riots in Sydney to announce his party's candidates for New South Wales. A 19-year-old supporter of Anning was arrested and charged with assault and intimidation after being involved in an altercation with members of the media immediately after the announcement, allegedly punching a photographer and abusing a journalist. Video footage shows the young man repeatedly punching the photographer, who sustained injury.[33][34] The assailant was a member of the militant white supremacist group True Blue Crew, which has been linked to terrorism.[35]

Rahma el-Dennaoui

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On 12 May 2019, an official post on Anning's Facebook page included a picture of the family of Rahma el-Dennaoui, a toddler who disappeared in 2005, accompanied with the phrase "if you want a Muslim for a neighbour, just vote Labor" and the party's logo. The photo appeared to be from a 2010 Daily Telegraph article published shortly after the girl's disappearance.[36] The post was deleted the following day, but not before it had attracted a number of negative comments after Mariam Veiszadeh and others had commented about it on social media.[37]

See also

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Notes

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References

[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia

Fraser Anning's Conservative National Party was a minor Australian political party founded by former Queensland Senator William Fraser Anning, focused on national-conservative principles including stringent immigration restrictions to preserve the nation's European Christian heritage and cultural identity.
Registered with the Australian Electoral Commission on 2 April 2019 after Anning's application in late 2018, the party aimed to contest federal elections by fielding candidates aligned with Anning's emphasis on sovereignty, traditional values, and opposition to multiculturalism policies perceived as diluting national cohesion.
In the 2019 federal election, it received approximately 77,203 primary votes nationwide, equating to 0.54% of the total, but secured no parliamentary seats.
The party was deregistered by the AEC on 23 September 2020 for failing to respond to notices and lacking current parliamentary representation, reflecting its limited organizational endurance amid challenges from established parties and public scrutiny of Anning's forthright positions on demographic change.

Origins and Early Development

Fraser Anning's Pre-Party Political Career

entered federal politics as a candidate for party in the , contesting the Senate position for where he was placed third on the party's ticket. He received only 19 first-preference votes in the election. Following the High Court's disqualification of One Nation Senator Malcolm Roberts on 27 October 2017 under section 44(i) of the for dual citizenship, Anning was declared elected to fill the vacancy on 10 November 2017. Upon entering the , Anning was initially affiliated with One Nation from 10 November 2017 until 15 January 2018, but a rapid fallout ensued. He claimed to have been expelled by shortly after being sworn in, amid disputes over his independence and loyalty. Anning then sat as an independent senator from 15 January 2018 to 4 June 2018, during which he gained attention for controversial speeches on and . On 4 June 2018, Anning joined (KAP), becoming its sole federal representative in the until 26 November 2018. His tenure with KAP ended amid policy disagreements, particularly over , leading him to resume sitting as an independent. Prior to 2016, Anning had no recorded involvement in elected office at federal, state, or local levels, with his professional background centered on , manufacturing, and .

Defection from Pauline Hanson's One Nation and Katter's Australian Party

Fraser Anning was declared elected to the Australian Senate on 10 November 2017 as a replacement for Malcolm Roberts, who had been disqualified under section 44 of the Constitution, under the banner of party. Hours after being sworn in on 13 November 2017, Anning resigned from One Nation to sit as an independent senator, citing irreconcilable differences with party leadership, including tensions with Hanson and adviser during the pre-selection process. Hanson described the move as a betrayal and abandonment, alleging that staff linked to former One Nation senator Malcolm Roberts had encouraged Anning to defect, possibly toward Cory Bernardi's , while Anning countered that he had been effectively dismissed via press release. Following approximately seven months as an independent, Anning joined Katter's Australian Party (KAP) on 4 June 2018, aligning with longtime associate Bob Katter and expressing optimism about bolstering the party's Senate presence. His tenure with KAP lasted until 25 October 2018, when he was expelled after delivering a maiden speech on 14 August 2018 that advocated for a plebiscite to return immigration policy to a "European-only" basis and referenced a "final solution" to end Muslim immigration, prompting bipartisan condemnation for invoking Holocaust-associated language and promoting racial exclusion. Katter, who had repeatedly warned Anning against racially charged rhetoric, cited the senator's refusal to retract the statements—described by Katter as 1% "totally unacceptable" amid 99% agreement on other issues—as the grounds for expulsion, emphasizing the party's rejection of policies targeting non-European migration. These successive defections highlighted Anning's pattern of prioritizing uncompromising positions on and over party loyalty, amid accusations from One Nation and KAP leaders of and , though Anning maintained his actions stemmed from principled stands against what he viewed as insufficiently restrictive party platforms. The events eroded support for his former parties in , with polls indicating One Nation voter backlash post-2017 defection, while KAP distanced itself to preserve its regional focus and avoid alienating moderate voters.

Registration and Official Launch

Fraser Anning submitted an application to the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) for registration of on 23 November 2018, following his departure from . The application outlined the party's structure, with Anning as leader and Boston White as registered officer, and sought eligibility to contest federal elections under the name emphasizing conservative nationalism. On 10 2019, the AEC notified the party of its intent to advertise the application for public objections, prompting Anning to publicly announce the party's formation the following day on 11 2019. Objections were lodged by the , citing potential voter confusion with its established branding, and by the Australian Conservatives, who argued the name overlapped with their conservative positioning; however, the AEC reviewed these under the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 criteria and found no grounds for refusal after assessing distinctiveness and administrative compliance. The AEC approved registration on 2 April 2019, enabling the party to endorse candidates for the 2019 federal election and officially launching its operations as a federally recognized entity. This followed verification of the required 1,500 member signatures and constitution adherence, marking the party's transition from Anning's independent status to a structured political .

Electoral Participation and Outcomes

2019 Federal Election Campaign and Results

The Conservative National Party, registered with the Australian Electoral Commission on 2 April 2019, entered the federal election campaign for the 18 May 2019 poll with a focus on fielding candidates across both houses of parliament. Led by Senator Fraser Anning, the party nominated multiple candidates for House of Representatives seats in divisions such as Herbert (Queensland), Canning, Swan, and Brand (Western Australia), as well as other electorates in New South Wales, Victoria, and Queensland. Anning headed the Senate ticket in Queensland, with the party also running Senate groups in other states including Western Australia. The brief pre-election period limited the party's outreach, relying primarily on Anning's existing profile and targeted appeals in conservative-leaning areas. In the , the party secured 77,203 first-preference votes nationwide, accounting for 0.54% of the total primary vote—a debut swing of +0.54% from zero baseline—with no seats gained out of 151 contested. Examples included Tamara Durant in , who received votes contributing to the national tally but fell short of viability in a competitive . The results reflected the challenges faced by minor parties in preferential voting systems, where preferences typically flowed to major coalitions without yielding representation for the CNP. Senate results similarly yielded no quotas met for the 40 seats up for . The party obtained 94,130 first-preference votes nationally, or 0.64%, distributed across groups in various states. In , where Anning sought re-election, the party's group total stood at 37,184 votes (1.28%), insufficient to reach the quota of approximately 414,495 votes needed for one of six available seats, leading to Anning's defeat and the end of his parliamentary term. Overall, the outcomes underscored the party's marginal national support amid a contest dominated by the Liberal-National Coalition's unexpected retention of government.

Post-Election Status and Deregistration

Following the held on 18 May, 's Conservative National Party secured no seats in either the or the , with himself failing to retain his position. The party received 77,203 first-preference votes nationwide, representing 0.54 percent of the total primary vote. This marginal performance left the party without parliamentary representation or influence, prompting a period of diminished activity. In the absence of electoral success, the party did not contest subsequent state or federal polls and faced administrative challenges typical of minor parties, including compliance with ongoing registration obligations under the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918. The Australian Electoral Commission deregistered Fraser Anning's Conservative National Party on 23 September 2020, as announced in the official notice issued by Assistant Commissioner Joanne Reid. Deregistration effectively ended the party's legal status to operate federally, with no evidence of revival or transfer of assets to other entities.

Ideology and Policy Platform

National Identity and Immigration Stance

The Conservative National Party, under Fraser Anning's , advocated for a centered on Australia's historical and European Christian foundations, arguing that this heritage provided the cultural cohesion necessary for social stability and prosperity. Anning, in his role as party founder, emphasized that Australia's success as a nation stemmed from policies ensuring immigrants shared compatible values, as exemplified by the pre-1973 , which he described as having built "the most unified, cohesive and prosperous country in the world" by prioritizing . The party positioned as a threat to this identity, contending it fostered division rather than unity, with Anning asserting that true national loyalty required full assimilation into Australian customs rather than parallel societies. On immigration, the party called for a complete halt to arrivals from Muslim-majority countries, proposing a national plebiscite to endorse this ban on the grounds of cultural incompatibility and risks. Anning argued that Islam's doctrinal elements, such as support for law among 64% of surveyed Muslims in , conflicted irreconcilably with democratic principles and freedoms, citing elevated rates of , , and involvement in among certain immigrant cohorts as evidence of failed integration. Instead, the platform favored reverting to a selective system prioritizing skilled migrants from and nations with proven alignment to Western values, aiming to restore demographic and cultural homogeneity to prevent what the party viewed as the erosion of national sovereignty and social trust. This stance extended to opposing intakes from incompatible backgrounds and critiquing international obligations that compelled non-selective admissions. The party's framed immigration policy as a matter of existential preservation, with Anning warning in post-Christchurch statements that unchecked inflows from Muslim sources directly contributed to imported conflicts, such as gang and risks, rather than attributing solely to individual perpetrators. While mainstream outlets often portrayed these positions as inflammatory, the party defended them as pragmatic responses grounded in observable patterns of non-assimilation and empirical data on immigrant outcomes, rejecting narratives that equated with .

Social Conservatism and Cultural Preservation

The Conservative National Party positioned itself as a defender of Australia's traditional social fabric, emphasizing Christian principles and the nuclear family as foundational to societal stability. Founder Fraser Anning articulated this in his maiden Senate speech on August 14, 2018, declaring as a "conservative Christian" his strong support for "traditional social values" that prioritize the family unit. The party's platform implicitly rejected expansions of marriage beyond heterosexual unions, aligning with Anning's broader critique of policies eroding familial norms. Central to the party's cultural preservation efforts was opposition to state-sponsored programs promoting non-traditional sexual orientations in . Anning condemned the Safe Schools initiative in a September 18, 2018, Senate address, likening it to "communist" efforts to expose children to "sexually deviant material" and labeling it a "dangerous and degenerate program" that failed to address while advancing ideological agendas. This stance reflected a commitment to shielding youth from what the party viewed as corrosive cultural shifts, prioritizing empirical concerns over social cohesion from unchecked progressive reforms. On cultural grounds, the party advocated maintaining as an "English-speaking predominantly European Christian ," arguing that unchecked from non-assimilating immigrant groups undermined national unity and values. Anning contended that true integration required migrants to adopt core Australian , warning that diversity without shared heritage led to parallel societies and eroded the cohesion built over generations by . This preservationist approach prioritized causal links between demographic homogeneity and social trust, drawing on historical patterns of successful nation-building in societies.

Economic and Governance Positions

The Conservative National Party emphasized protectionist economic measures to safeguard Australian industries, particularly , , and , which it viewed as foundational to national prosperity. Party leader argued in his 2018 to the that pre-globalization policies effectively shielded these sectors from foreign competition, enabling and economic self-sufficiency, but that subsequent shifts toward open markets and mass immigration had eroded domestic job opportunities and wage levels. This stance reflected a broader of multinational influences and agreements, positioning the party as favoring tariffs or incentives to prioritize local production over imports. On governance, the party advocated for a return to Westminster principles of unencumbered by supranational bodies or excessive bureaucratic oversight, aligning with its national-sovereignty focus. Anning contended that effective required policies reinforcing cultural and economic homogeneity to prevent social fragmentation that could undermine fiscal stability and delivery. While specific fiscal proposals like tax reforms were not prominently detailed in party materials, the platform implicitly supported reallocating resources toward Australian workers and , opposing welfare expansions that might incentivize non-participation in the labor force, as evidenced by Anning's scrutiny of employment rates among immigrant communities.

Parliamentary Role and Activities

Senate Representation and Legislative Efforts

Fraser Anning held the Conservative National Party's only seat in the from early April , when the Australian Electoral Commission approved the party's registration application submitted in November 2018, until the end of his term on 30 June 2019 following the 18 May federal election, in which the party received 0.54% of the national vote and failed to retain the position. In this short window, Anning introduced one private senator's bill on behalf of the party: the Social Security Amendment (A Fair Go for Age Pensioners) Bill 2019 on 2 April 2019, which proposed changes to the to adjust means-testing thresholds and assets tests for age pension eligibility, aiming to increase payments for eligible recipients affected by deemed income rules on superannuation and financial assets. The bill received its first reading but did not advance further and lapsed without passage upon the of the 45th . The party's legislative efforts were constrained by its solitary crossbench position and Anning's limited alliances, yielding no enacted laws or significant amendments to government bills. Anning's contributions during this phase focused more on procedural votes, motions opposing and endorsing plebiscites on , and verbal advocacy for self-defense rights—including calls to relax restrictions on importing non-lethal weapons like tasers and —than on collaborative lawmaking. These positions aligned with the party's platform but drew cross-party opposition, culminating in Anning's by the on 3 April 2019 for comments blaming for the mosque attacks, which further isolated the party from legislative influence.

Controversies, Criticisms, and Defenses

Key Public Incidents and Statements

On March 15, 2019, hours after the that killed 51 people and injured 49 others, Senator issued a public statement blaming the tragedy on New Zealand's policies, asserting that "the real cause of the bloodshed is the immigration program which allowed Muslim fanatics to migrate to New Zealand killing innocent ." He described as "a failed experiment" incompatible with Western civilization and advocated for a plebiscite to end it, while calling for to prioritize assimilable European migrants. The remarks, which attributed societal tensions to mass non-European rather than solely condemning the white supremacist perpetrator Brenton Tarrant, elicited condemnation from across Australia's , including from , who labeled them "appalling" and clarified that Anning did not represent national values. The statement's fallout intensified on March 16, 2019, when Anning held a press conference in Melbourne to defend his position. A 17-year-old boy approached and cracked a raw egg on Anning's head, an act captured on video and dubbed the "egging" incident. Anning retaliated by striking the teenager twice on the head and chest, prompting a melee involving Anning's supporters who restrained the boy. Victoria Police investigated but laid no charges against Anning, citing self-defense, while the teenager received a caution for common assault; the event amplified media scrutiny and fundraising for both the boy and Anning's legal defense. Anning later stated the assault justified his response and reinforced his critique of societal divisions fueled by immigration. On April 3, 2019—just days before the formal registration of Fraser Anning's Conservative National Party—the unanimously Anning (91-0 among voting senators) for "inflammatory and divisive comments seeking to attribute blame to victims" of the attacks, barring him from representing the chamber at official events. Anning rejected the motion as a "cowardly" suppression of debate on immigration's role in fostering , maintaining that ignoring cultural incompatibilities enabled such violence and that the exemplified elite intolerance for . In the lead-up to the May 2019 federal election, the party's inaugural public events echoed these themes. At a candidate announcement in Cronulla, New South Wales, on April 26, 2019—site of 2005 race riots—fists flew among attendees, drawing police to quell disruptions as Anning's supporters clashed internally and heckled journalists. Anning framed the party's platform around ending Muslim immigration via a zero-tolerance policy and restoring a Eurocentric , statements he reiterated in campaign materials warning of "Islamisation" and cultural erosion without assimilation requirements. These positions, while securing only 77,203 votes nationwide (0.54% of the primary vote), underscored the party's alignment with Anning's prior rhetoric amid ongoing protests and media exclusion.

Associations and Personnel Issues

The Conservative National Party attracted scrutiny for its associations with alt-right and extremist elements through certain personnel and recruitment efforts. In April 2019, leaked private messages from an Australian alt-right Telegram group exposed a coordinated strategy by individuals linked to Senator Anning's office and party to amplify fringe during the federal election campaign, including plans to "infiltrate" mainstream discourse and recruit from extremist networks. Key figures in these discussions included Lachlan Barker, identified as Anning's media adviser and involved in party operations, who advocated for aggressive tactics such as flooding with content portraying Anning as a vehicle for broader alt-right objectives. Anning publicly distanced himself, asserting ignorance of the group's activities and emphasizing that the party did not endorse such extremism, though critics argued the involvement of staff blurred lines between official operations and unofficial radical agendas. This episode highlighted personnel vetting challenges, as the party's rapid formation following Anning's Senate tenure in early 2019 relied on a small cadre of volunteers and aides drawn from nationalist circles, some with documented ties to groups like the True Blue Crew, a Melbourne-based nationalist outfit previously linked to street activism. No formal disciplinary actions against implicated staff were reported, but the revelations fueled broader concerns about ideological infiltration within minor parties seeking parliamentary footholds. Candidate selection also drew associations with controversial figures; for instance, hopefuls included individuals like those attending events with known far-right activists, though specific vetting lapses were not detailed beyond supporter conduct at announcements, where physical altercations with media occurred in Cronulla on April 26, 2019. The party's modest structure—lacking robust internal mechanisms typical of larger organizations—exacerbated perceptions of permeability to external influences, contributing to its post-election deregistration amid low membership verification.

Broader Reception: Support, Opposition, and Media Framing

The Conservative National Party garnered minimal electoral support, securing approximately 1.2% of the vote in during the 2019 federal election, insufficient for representation. Its base consisted primarily of voters aligned with stringent anti- positions, including calls for a moratorium on Muslim immigration and restoration of the , attracting niche backing from nationalist online communities and individuals disillusioned with mainstream conservative parties on cultural preservation issues. No endorsements from major political figures or organizations were recorded, with even the Nationals Party objecting to the party's name for potential voter confusion rather than ideological alignment. Opposition to the party was widespread across the , with all major parties and independents condemning Fraser Anning's public statements, such as his maiden Senate speech invoking a "final solution" for and post-Christchurch mosque attacks remarks attributing the violence to Muslim migration policies. The formally censured Anning on April 2, 2019, for "appalling" comments, following rebukes from Prime Minister and opposition leader , who described them as "disgraceful" and un-Australian. Advocacy groups, including the Australian Muslim community via the Australian National Imams Council, criticized the party's platform for promoting Islamophobia, leading to public protests and incidents like the of Anning by a teenager on March 16, 2019, which drew further media attention to the backlash. Media coverage, dominated by outlets like ABC, BBC, and The Guardian, consistently framed the party as far-right and extremist, emphasizing associations with alt-right activists—such as leaked plans by neo-Nazi-linked staff to leverage Anning's platform for broader influence—and portraying its policies as racially inflammatory rather than debating underlying demographic or security rationales cited by Anning, such as integration failures in multicultural policies. Academic analyses echoed this, classifying the party alongside other nationalist groups for organizational ties to fringe elements, though such framing often conflates policy advocacy with endorsement of violence absent direct evidence of the latter from the party itself. This negative portrayal contributed to the party's marginalization, with limited counter-narratives in conservative media focusing on Anning's defenses of free speech and cultural sovereignty.

References

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