Approval of application from The Climate Sceptics to change its name to 'No Carbon Tax Climate Sceptics'

Updated: 15 December 2011

File reference: 09/3061

The delegate of the Australian Electoral Commission determined that the application by The Climate Sceptics to change its registered name under the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 should be accepted and the No Carbon Tax Climate Sceptics be entered in the Register of Political Parties.

Background

On 6 October 2011, the AEC received an application from The Climate Sceptics to change its registered name and abbreviation under the provisions of Part XI of the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 (the Electoral Act). The new name sought was the 'No Carbon Tax Climate Sceptics' and the new abbreviation 'NCTCS'.

The AEC conducted a series of tests usually undertaken as part of the initial consideration of an application and on 14 October 2011, the delegate of the AEC approved the advertisement of The Climate Sceptics application.

Relevant legal provisions

The legal provisions relevant for an application to change the Register of Political Parties are in s4 and Part XI of the Electoral Act. An extract of the relevant provisions is available on this website. The reader should consult this extract at the link provided to understand the legal provisions being applied in the tests below.

The application for review

Application

The application satisfies the requirements in s.134 of the Electoral Act, in that it was in writing, signed by three members of the party, stated the applicants' capacities and their street addresses and included the prescribed $500 application fee. The application meets all the technical elements required for an application to change a registered party's name.

Party name

The name the 'No Carbon Tax Climate Sceptics' does not appear to be a name prohibited under s.129(1) of the Electoral Act. It is not similar to any other registered or recognised political party name and does not breach any other provisions of the Electoral Act.

The application passes the names test.

Objections

The Climate Sceptics application to change the party name was advertised in the Commonwealth Gazette and newspapers circulating generally in each State and Territory on 2 November 2011 to permit interested persons or organisations to lodge an objection. The objection period lasted until 2 December 2011.

No objections were received.

Conclusion

The application by The Climate Sceptics is approved, the party's name changed to the No Carbon Tax Climate Sceptics and the party's abbreviation changed to NCTCS in the Register of Political Parties.

14 December 2011