Clive Palmer has lost a High Court challenge to re-register the United Australia Party ahead of this year’s federal election. The ruling means UAP candidates will not have the party’s name listed on ballot papers. Patrick Bell reports.
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00:00The United Australia Party was voluntarily deregistered after the last federal election,
00:08and under the law couldn't re-register within the same electoral cycle.
00:12Mr Palmer argued the law was unconstitutional.
00:15Alongside UAP Senator Ralph Babette and the party's National Director, they argued the
00:21restriction on the party's name and logo appearing on ballot papers infringed on the
00:26implied freedom of political communication and restricted voters' choice.
00:31But the High Court has sided with the Commonwealth, which argued the benefits of party registration
00:36also come with responsibilities between elections, such as disclosing donations, and no party
00:43should be able to escape those obligations.
00:46Lawyers for the Commonwealth also stressed the restrictions only take effect when a party
00:51chooses to deregister.
00:53By the party's own admission during the case, the ruling makes it less likely that UAP candidates
00:59will succeed at this year's election.
01:02The court has ordered Mr Palmer and the other plaintiffs to pay the costs of the case, but
01:07it hasn't published its reasons, given the urgency of making a decision before the election
01:12is called.