The First Nation Party, led by well-known indigenous leader Paul Girrawah House, has been registered as a political party in the ACT and is eligible to nominate candidates for the October ACT Legislative Assembly election.

The party is expected to field candidates in all five ACT Legislative Assembly electorates.

ACT Electoral Commissioner Damian Cantwell said today the registration took effect from Tuesday, July 30.

“The deadline for applying for registration passed at midnight 30 June 2024.” Commissioner Cantwell said,.

“First Nation Party lodged an application before that deadline and Elections ACT have been assessing it for compliance. Parties wishing to register for ACT elections must submit a list of at least 100 members who are on the ACT electoral roll”.

He said registered political parties were able to list their party name or their abbreviated name on ballot papers. First Nation Party’s registered abbreviation was “First Nation”.

There were currently 16 political parties registered to contest the Assembly election:

• Animal Justice Party
• Australian Labor Party (ACT Branch)
• Belco Party (ACT)
• Canberra Progressives
• Democratic Labour Party (DLP)
• Family First Party (ACT)
• Fiona Carrick Independent
• First Nation Party
• Independents for Canberra
• Liberal Party of Australia (A.C.T. Division)
• Libertarian Party
• Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party (ACT)
• Strong Independents
• Sustainable Australia Party – Stop Overdevelopment / Corruption
• The ACT Greens
• The Community Action Party (ACT)