Curtin Labor Alliance
Encyclopedia
The Curtin Labor Alliance was a minor Australia
n political coalition
that was formed between two minor right-wing groups, the Citizens Electoral Council
(CEC) and the Western Australia
n Municipal Employers Union, in 2001. The name sparked outrage from the Australian Labor Party
both for confusing electors and invoking former Australian Labor Prime Minister
John Curtin
. The Alliance claimed that Curtin was a nationalist, and that they represented the views that he would have espoused if he was alive. The Alliance was accused by Labor politicians of racism
and extremist
views, which were denied by the leader of the CEC, Craig Isherwood. It fielded candidates at the 2001 federal election (including Adrian Bennett
, who was the Labor member for Swan
from 1969 to 1975), but achieved only mediocre results. The party was deregistered in 2005 after not contesting the 2004 election (which was contested individually by the CEC).
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n political coalition
Coalition
A coalition is a pact or treaty among individuals or groups, during which they cooperate in joint action, each in their own self-interest, joining forces together for a common cause. This alliance may be temporary or a matter of convenience. A coalition thus differs from a more formal covenant...
that was formed between two minor right-wing groups, the Citizens Electoral Council
Citizens Electoral Council
The Citizens Electoral Council of Australia is a minor nationalist political party in Australia affiliated with the international LaRouche Movement, led by American political activist and conspiracy theorist Lyndon LaRouche. It reported having 549 members in 2007...
(CEC) and the Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
n Municipal Employers Union, in 2001. The name sparked outrage from the Australian Labor Party
Australian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
both for confusing electors and invoking former Australian Labor Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Australia
The Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Australia is the highest minister of the Crown, leader of the Cabinet and Head of Her Majesty's Australian Government, holding office on commission from the Governor-General of Australia. The office of Prime Minister is, in practice, the most powerful...
John Curtin
John Curtin
John Joseph Curtin , Australian politician, served as the 14th Prime Minister of Australia. Labor under Curtin formed a minority government in 1941 after the crossbench consisting of two independent MPs crossed the floor in the House of Representatives, bringing down the Coalition minority...
. The Alliance claimed that Curtin was a nationalist, and that they represented the views that he would have espoused if he was alive. The Alliance was accused by Labor politicians of racism
Racism
Racism is the belief that inherent different traits in human racial groups justify discrimination. In the modern English language, the term "racism" is used predominantly as a pejorative epithet. It is applied especially to the practice or advocacy of racial discrimination of a pernicious nature...
and extremist
Extremism
Extremism is any ideology or political act far outside the perceived political center of a society; or otherwise claimed to violate common moral standards...
views, which were denied by the leader of the CEC, Craig Isherwood. It fielded candidates at the 2001 federal election (including Adrian Bennett
Adrian Bennett
Adrian Frank Bennett was an Australian politician. Born in Perth, Western Australia, he was educated at Catholic schools before becoming a transport worker. He was secretary of the Transport Workers' Union and also sat on the councils of Canning Shire and its successor Canning Town...
, who was the Labor member for Swan
Division of Swan
The Division of Swan is an Australian Electoral Division located in Western Australia. The division is named after the Swan River.For several decades, it has been a marginal seat, extending along the Swan and Canning Rivers from the affluent suburbs in the City of South Perth to the west, which...
from 1969 to 1975), but achieved only mediocre results. The party was deregistered in 2005 after not contesting the 2004 election (which was contested individually by the CEC).