Steve Mav no longer in political race amid new laws ‘to strangle minor parties’

He has been a fixture on roadsides for years, but now he has waved to his final passing car after “undemocratic” law changes left him with “no reasonable prospects of success”.

A MAN who has run for federal and local government has bowed out of politics as he accepts “I have no reasonable prospects of success” amid legislation changes.

Former Glenorchy alderman Steve Mav has tried all manner of tactics to get back into politics, including waving to drivers on busy streets during federal election campaigns and engaging heavily with his supporters on Facebook.

He was even accused of looking through a woman’s letterbox during his recent Brighton mayor campaign, though he strenuously denied any wrongdoing.

Mr Mav took to Facebook on Sunday with an open letter to his party members titled Goodbye to Steve Mav Team.

“I am writing to update you on the Steve Mav Team and my decision to discontinue having my own political party,” he wrote.

“Since you joined my political party, I have been responsible for managing the registration process with the Australian Electoral Commission.

“It was expected that later in the year my party would be registered having met all the legal requirements including the minimum 500 party members.”

Steve Mav will end his bid for politics after the passing of new federal legislation he says would “strangle minor parties like mine”. Picture: PATRICK GEE

Mr Mav said the option for supporters to vote above the line would have given him a fighting chance at the next federal election, but said a law passed by the Liberal and Labor parties meant minor parties now need a minimum of 1500 party members.

The Party Registration Integrity Bill was passed last Thursday, also requiring the AEC to refuse applications for parties if their name, abbreviation or logo replicates that information belonging to another party without the other party’s consent.

“The Australian parliament last week changed the law to strangle minor parties like mine that are currently not represented in the Australian parliament,” Mr Mav wrote.

“The change to the law is an attack on Australian democracy.

“Sadly, I have reflected on the reality and accepted that I have no reasonable prospects of success to try to register the Steve Mav Team with the AEC.”

Mr Mav said he would go through the “necessary steps” to close down the party and thanked his members.

“I will continue to be ‘Steve Mav’ even if that is as a normal citizen exercising my constitutional rights of freedom, choice and personal responsibility,” he wrote.

Mr Mav told the Mercury he was “taking time out”.

“I have a business management background so I’m back to work ... paying the bills and I will just reflect and consider my position in the long term, but at this point in time I have no plans to move forward in terms of politics,” he said.

He said the Bill was “undemocratic” and would give more power to major parties.

“They should be ashamed of themselves,” he said.

“It’s a deliberate campaign to exclude people like me.

“Obviously I’m very disappointed but I have to accept the reality, I don’t make the laws, I have to follow the laws.”