Family First recognises that the entry of Clive Palmer’s new party will further fragment the centre right minor party vote at the up-coming federal election.
Family First National Director Lyle Shelton said:
“This is regrettable but we live in a democracy where citizens are free to start political parties and contest election.
“Family First will continue to cooperate with parties aligned with our values and to encourage voters to exercise care when they cast their preference votes, so votes are not wasted.
“For the past three years Family First has been doing the hard yards to build a political movement not based on personality, but upon the values we think are in our nation’s best interest - family, freedom, faith and life.
“There continues to be a lot of instability in the conservative minor party space as today’s development bears out.
“The continued failure of the Liberals and Nationals to live up to their purported values (apart from a handful who are ignored by their leadership) has driven this.
“I think it will take some more time for the dust to settle, and it won’t be settled in one electoral cycle.
“As is clearly demonstrated by this week’s Alliance for Responsible Citizenship conference in London, conservative parties in the UK and Australia are not tracking with the energy and social policies needed for a flourishing nation - let alone to avoid what ARC rightly identifies as the possibility of civilisational decline in the West.
“Family First’s Senate Team of Katie Lush, Qld, Christopher Brohier, SA, Bernie Finn, Vic, Elizabeth Kikkert, ACT and myself in NSW will be supported by up to 100 lower house candidates across eastern Australia.
“Family First is contesting this election committed to cutting power prices by returning to affordable & reliable electricity generation, ensuring parents have the freedom to send their kids to faith-based schools free of government-imposed sexual and gender ideologies, and to protecting children, girls and women from the harms of gender-fluid ideology.
“Family First is working to a medium to long term plan that builds a conservative partisan political movement that will - in time - achieve parliamentary representation and that will last.
“While we wish Clive’s latest venture all the best, we would encourage people to consider what is sustainable and what can stand the test of time.
“The stakes for our nation - ie our children and grandchildren - are too high for the politics of family, faith, freedom and life to fail.”
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