Babet & Anor v. Commonwealth of Australia
Palmer v. Commonwealth of Australia

Catchwords

Constitutional law – elections – Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 (Cth) – part XI – registration of political parties – where United Australia Party was registered as a political party in 2018 – where United Australia party was voluntarily deregistered by the Australian Electoral Commission under s 135(1) of the Act in 2022 – where s 135(3) of the Act provides that a party is ineligible for registration until after the general election next following the voluntary deregistration of that party – validity of s 135(3) – whether invalid on the ground that it impairs the direct choice by the people of Senators or Members of the House of Representatives, contrary to ss 7 and 24 of the Constitution – whether invalid on the ground that it impermissibly discriminates against candidates of a political party that has deregistered voluntarily or a Parliamentary party that has deregistered voluntarily – whether invalid on the ground that it infringes the implied freedom of political communication.