EXECUTIVE APPOINTED FOR THE NEWLY REFORMED TASMANIAN DIVISION

The Tasmanian Division held its first meeting tonight and appointed the interim executive who
will establish the party’s operations in Tasmania ahead of elections next year.
The new executive is:
President – James Irvine
Senior Vice President – Russell Mitchell
Vice President, Policy – Dwayne Purdy
Vice President, Events and Fundraising – Adam Young
Vice President, Administration – Debbie Howard
General Member – Andrew Bishop
General Member – Terrence Seymour
Tasmanian Division spokesperson Kathryn Crosby said the team is a good blend of people from
different areas of Tasmania, and a mix of new and experienced members. “This is a strong team
that have the skills and drive to establish a strong foundation for the party here in Tasmania.”
The party will also push ahead with its attempt to re‐register at State level by Christmas. “It’s
going to be very tight – but we are going to do our absolute best to sign up some more new
members in the next couple of days to get us across the line”.
“December 20 was the deadline we set ourselves, but as long as we can get all the paper work
in to the Electoral Commission before Christmas then we look forward to contesting the State
election in March,” Ms Crosby said. “But we need more people to join right now.”
“If we don’t make it, the reason is not going to be lack of members, but rather the invasive
requirement that the names and home addresses of our members be published in the paper.”
As part of re‐registering a party the Electoral Act 2004 requires that the particulars of the party,
including the names and home addresses of the members who have supplied statutory
declarations stating they are a member of the party, be published in 3 major newspapers. “The

Find out more at www.democrats.org.au or www.tas.democrats.org.au
privacy and security of our members come first, so of course we respect those members who
are not comfortable submitting their details for re‐registration purposes,” Ms Crosby said.
“We will still support members as independent candidates if we don’t make it – ensuring that
Tasmanians have the opportunity to vote to keep the bastards honest in March.”
Peter Power from St Marys is likely to be the lead candidate in Lyons, and Dwayne Purdy from
Burnie has nominated for Braddon. Other likely candidates are also in discussions with party
leadership, and nominations will remain open until late January.
People wishing to join the Australian Democrats can do so easily from the website at
www.democrats.org.au/join. More information about the Tasmanian Division, including a link
to the policy survey, is available from www.tas.democrats.org.au.

James Irvine, Australian Democrats