The Belco Party, which failed to win a seat at last year's territory election, will contest the next poll and says it has already met with current members about its campaign.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The party on Wednesday announced it would expand to at least three electorates - Gininderra, Yerrabi and Brindabella - and founder Bill Stefaniak would not run again.
Party candidate Angela Lount said the party had met with current members of ACT parliament about the next campaign.
"We've actually sat down and had a few chats with some of the MLAs now, the current MLAs. I think it's really important they have that voice of the community. People get afraid of big parties, they're really tired of what's been going on," Ms Lount said.
A Canberra Liberals spokesman said there had been no official discussions between the Belco Party and the Liberals.
The Canberra Times understands Labor is unaware of any meetings between its members and the Belco Party and that no Greens members have met with Belco Party representatives.
The Liberal's campaign review said the party should seek preferences from independents and third parties and encourage them not to run a full ticket.
"There needs to be a clear strategy as to how to harness support from independents and minor parties," the review said.
Mr Stefaniak, a former Canberra Liberals leader, founded the new party and ran in the October election for Ginninderra, despite not living in the electorate.
The Belco Party secured 9.4 per cent of the Ginninderra vote in last year's election, but appeared to split the conservative vote with few preferences flowing back to the Liberals.
Mr Stefaniak, who was a member of the Legislative Assembly for almost 17 years across two terms, said last year's election was very strange, and the biggest problem his party faced was its votes exhausted before preferences flowed to other candidates.
"I was quite surprised to see the Liberal Party [primary vote] go back 3 per cent, and then it seemed almost as if it went to the Greens, which is a bit bizarre unless there's a lot of doctor's wives out there, or something," Mr Stefaniak told The Canberra Times.
"But it amazes me that a lot of people said they wanted to do a protest vote and yet they vote for a party in government, which is a bit silly but there we go."
Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content:
- Bookmark canberratimes.com.au
- Download our app
- Make sure you are signed up for our breaking and regular headlines newsletters
- Follow us on Twitter
- Follow us on Instagram
Jasper Lindell
Jasper Lindell joined The Canberra Times in 2018. He is a Legislative Assembly reporter, covering ACT politics and government. He also writes about development, transport, heritage, local history, literature and the arts, as well as contributing to the Times' Panorama magazine. He was previously a Sunday Canberra Times reporter.
Jasper Lindell joined The Canberra Times in 2018. He is a Legislative Assembly reporter, covering ACT politics and government. He also writes about development, transport, heritage, local history, literature and the arts, as well as contributing to the Times' Panorama magazine. He was previously a Sunday Canberra Times reporter.
