Welcome to official website of the Australian Democrats (Queensland Division) Incorporated.
About us
The Australian Democrats (Queensland Division) Incorporated, sometimes known as the Queensland Democrats or the Queensland Division, is the organization that historically has represented the Australian Democrats in the State of Queensland, Australia.
The Australian Democrats were formed in 1977 by the late Don Chipp, as an organization committed to the ideals of honesty, tolerance and compassion in public life. Further, in 1997, the Democrats balloted a set of 23 objectives, a copy of which is included in this website.
The Australian Democrats traditionally have attempted to take a non-partisan approach to issues, that is, looking at issues in an informed manner and on their merits, and attempting to look at all sides of an argument. The philosopher John Stuart Mill summed up this approach in his 1859 book On Liberty, when he wrote: “He who knows only his own case, knows little of that.”
The Queensland Division was formed in 1977, in Fortitude Valley, Queensland. The Queensland Division incorporated in 1996, as did many other Divisions of the Australian Democrats around this time.
The Queensland Division is governed by an Executive, in accordance with a Constitution approved under the legislation for incorporated associations. Any member is eligible to candidate to become a member of the Executive.
Legal stuff
The Australian Democrats (Queensland Division) Incorporated is a registered incorporated association, under the Queensland Associations Incorporation Act 1981, registration number IA16778, and ABN 61842409808. Pursuant to Section 118 of the Constitution of the Australia, this registration and incorporation is recognized through Australia, and individuals and entities are obliged at law to recognize the Australian Democrats (Queensland Division) Incorporated.
The images and words relating to the Australian Democrats are the subject of Trade Marks 639812 and 639813. The Australian Democrats (Queensland Division) Incorporated is entitled to use the words Australian Democrats by virtue of these words forming part of the registered title of the incorporated association, by virtue of more than two decades of established usage, and by virtue of the fact that the predecessor organization to the above incorporated association was a constituent part of the organization on whose behalf the Trade Marks were originally obtained.
It is also of note that the Australian Electoral Commission, otherwise known as the AEC, on a number of occasions, namely, in 1999, 2000 and 2017, has accepted the Australian Democrats (Queensland Division) Incorporated as the Queensland organization representing the Australian Democrats.
If you would like us to send you a copy of the Certificate of Incorporation, or you have any other queries, please email the Secretary at [secretary@democrats-qld.org.au]. For reasons of logistics, the Executive has also determined that the association will not hold professional indemnity insurance.
23 objectives
Herewith are the 23 objectives of the Australian Democrats, slightly amended for modern usage:
1. To be beholden to no group or groups in the community but to serve the best interests of all Australians.
2. To accept the challenges of the predicament of humankind on the planet with its exponentially increasing population, disappearing finite resources and accelerating deterioration of the environment.
3. To recognise the interdependence of all people and nations, to co-operate with the United Nations, and to accept our obligation to the developing countries by co-operating with them in their social and economic development and quest for environmental protection.
4. To seek the transition to a sustainable economy, in equilibrium with world resources and ecosystems, with a minimum of dislocation by planning and increasing public awareness of the problems.
5. To be even-handed to employee and employer, and reconcile their real interests by encouraging industrial democracy and other appropriate forms of co-operation.
6. To foster greater understanding and equity between city and country dwellers.
7. To stimulate the development of a multi-faceted national culture, with full opportunity for all groups to contribute.
8. To further unite the people of Australia by co-operative, indicative national planning, taking into account social, economic and environmental objectives.
9. To seek improvement in the quality of human relationships in all aspects of society and the economy, through honesty, tolerance, compassion and a sense of mutual obligation.
10. To decentralise power, to oppose its concentration in the hands of sectional groups, and to ensure that the power of large groups or bureaucracies is not allowed to override the interests of individuals or smaller groups.
11. To achieve and defend effective participatory democracy and open government by appropriate constitutional, parliamentary and governmental reforms.
12. By supporting existing rural and provincial industries and in other ways, to stem, and finally reverse, the flow of population to the cities.
13. In social and health services to emphasize prevention rather than cure.
14. To foster community activities and the growth of community spirit, bringing government and health and social services closer to the people.
15. To enable people to pursue their own way of life so long as they do not interfere with the rights of others.
16. To provide throughout life an education for living as well as for earning a living.
17. To ensure ready access to the media for public communication.
18. To ensure that the basic needs of all people are securely met, and to distribute income, wealth, social services and opportunity more equitably without undermining either incentive or self-respect.
19. To encourage individual initiative and enterprise and to recognise the need for self-fulfilment.
20. Animals should be protected from cruelty and exploitation.
21. To recognise the rights of all peoples to self-determination.
22. To ensure the maintenance of biodiversity, to protect threatened species and to provide for better habitat protection.
23. To seek the election to Parliament of members committed to the objectives of the Australian Democrats.
Join
Why join? Membership is free, and this enables you to support the aims of the objectives of the Australian Democrats, particularly in Queensland. We are also open to applications for membership from those resident outside of Queensland.
To join, simply email (or write) to the Secretary, at [secretary@democrats-qld.org.au], indicating your name and address as held by the Australian Electoral Commission, and indicating that you would like to become a member of the Australian Democrats (Queensland Division) Incorporated.
Donate
The Australian Democrats (Queensland Division) Incorporated is a not-for-profit community organization, and, as such, we welcome any donations to further our objectives. Simply make payment direct to ANZ Bank Account #3789.39933, BSB 014.234. If you would like a receipt, please email the Secretary at the time you make the donation.
Communication
We generally communicate with members and with the wider public through social media and through our Newsletter, available through the National Library of Australia, or online at http://issuu.com/qlddems. You can contact us simply by sending an email to [secretary@democrats-qld.org.au], or through social media, or by traditional mail to PO Box 2017, Brighton Central QLD 4017.
Our social media links are as follows: http://www.twitter.com/AusDemocrats http://www.facebook.com/AusDemocrats/ http://www.facebook.com/QueenslandDemocrats
Please feel free to leave a message.