Awkward: Two political parties apply for the same name

An unusual political stoush has launched between two proposed political parties both lodging applications with the Electoral Commission to register the same name.

Two proposed parties lodged applications with the Electoral Commission to register the same name – “Family First”.

Former Labor ministers Jack Snelling and Tom Kenyon confirmed in late July they had quit the ALP to lead a resurgence of Family First.

However, another political outfit swooped in before the pair applied to register the name and lodged their own application to become “Family First South Australia”.

It is understood the commission considers applications in the order they are received and each accepted application goes through a public consultation period.

Mr Snelling has flagged that his Family First party would be objecting to the name “Family First South Australia” being used.

Family First South Australia’s registered agent Megan Lavender said the party was formed in February this year, had 270 members and it applied to register its name in early August.

“The reason we’ve formed the party was because there was a political vacuum that we saw and a need to form a right of centre conservative party,” she said.

“We’re here to get on with the job for families and conservatives with the support of the community.”

1Jack Snelling. Picture: Tait Schmaal.

Tom Kenyon. Picture: AAP Image/Ben Macmahon

Ms Lavender, who has a background in teaching, took aim at Mr Snelling and Mr Kenyon’s Family First.

“What in essence you really have here with Jack Snelling and Tom Kenyon is two former experienced Labor politicians who are looking to garner votes for the ALP and defeat Steven Marshall in his seat,” she said.

“It’s basically some political manoeuvring – Nothing to do with family values.”

Ms Lavender announced the party’s candidates for Waite, Peter Salerno and for Elder, Marina Phillips, and said more lower and upper house candidates would be revealed in due course.

She would not be drawn on Mr Snelling’s plan to object to their name.

Mr Snelling said he first became aware of another “Family First” party when controversial former Marion Councillor Nick Kerry told him he was seeking to register Family First himself.

Ms Lavender confirmed Mr Kerry has played a role in the creation of the party.

Mr Snelling said the SA Electoral Act prevented the use of a name with an existing prominent public body.

He said Family First Party Inc has existed continuously as an incorporated association since 2002 and “Family First” was a registered trademark.

“We will vigorously oppose any attempt to appropriate the name Family First,” Mr Snelling said.

Mr Snelling and Mr Kenyon revived Family First with the blessing of Family First founder Andrew Evans over concerns about restrictions on religious freedom prompted by recent Bills regarding euthanasia and abortion.

Meanwhile, former SA senator Bob Day has applied to register the Australian Family Party and the federally-registered Sustainable Australia Party is seeking to register its SA branch as the “SA Party”.

Sustainable Australia Party federal president William Bourke said the party sought to protect the environment, halt overdevelopment and stop corruption.

Mr Bourke said the party would also be advocating for a Swiss-style direct democracy for SA.

“The main feature would be citizen-initiated referenda where, much like the Swiss system, the SA Parliament must put a binding referendum to the people within 12 months of at least five per cent of SA voters signing an official petition,” he said.