Canberra Progressives has launched its bid to win a seat at the October territory election, saying it's there to shake-up the old and stale major parties.
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The party's candidates acknowledge it will be a tough task to make it into ACT Legislative Assembly, but say they're up for the challenge.
The party, which registered in May, will be running seven candidates in total, across the seats of Murrumbidgee, Yerrabi and Kurrajong.
Canberra Progressives is the ACT branch of the federally registered Australian Progressives.
Among the candidates is Robert Knight, who ran for the party in last year's federal election, and former Bullet Train for Canberra leader and Like Canberra party co-founder Tim Bohm.
The party launched its campaign on Wednesday outside the Legislative Assembly with the support of two party members in dinosaur costumes.
"The dinosaurs are a metaphor for the major parties/the ACT government" Mr Knight said.
"The dinosaurs have had their time. It's time to move them into the museum where they belong now.
"We're keen to kick these out of the Legislative Assembly."
The party said it had no views on who it would preference, or who it would support to form government if successful in winning a seat.
It says it would take these questions to its party membership.
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Mr Bohm said while the party's "dinosaurs" were a bit of fun, the message was serious.
"We currently have some dinosaur Liberal members that appear to not believe in science and the need to act on climate change," he said.
"On the other side we have Labor dinosaurs who appear to have been in power so long they can't remember the last time they put the community's interests before their own."
Party president Douglas Maclaine-Cross said the candidates were all "everyday, professional Australians".
"If you want politicians to do what you want, you must vote for yourselves and those like you," he said.
"As fierce and as large as the major parties might seem; we have some champions for you who are willing and eager to make a huge difference by putting pressure on them."
The party's full list of candidates is: Therese Faulkner, Tim Bohm, Peta Swarbrick, Robert Knight, Stephen Lin, Bethany Williams and Mike Stelzig.
ACT politics and health reporter Contact me with tips, story ideas, or just to have a chat, at daniella.white@canberratimes.com.au
ACT politics and health reporter Contact me with tips, story ideas, or just to have a chat, at daniella.white@canberratimes.com.au
