Australian Conservatives and Family First to merge

Cory Bernardi's Australian Conservatives to amalgamate with Family First


By political correspondent Louise Yaxley




PHOTO: Senator Bernardi quit the Liberal Party to set up the Australian Conservatives Party. (AAP: Sam Mooy)

The Australian Conservatives party, represented in the Senate by Cory Bernardi, will amalgamate with the Family First Party, the ABC understands.

Family First has two representatives in the South Australian Parliament who will become Australian Conservatives instead.

But the ABC understands newly elected Family First senator Lucy Gichuhi will not be part of the merged party.
Earlier this year, Senator Bernardi quit the Liberal Party to set up the Australian Conservatives party.

The decision to amalgamate the two parties means a significant consolidation of the conservative movement nationally.

It is understood to have been ratified by executives from Family First who have resolved not to keep the party going at state or federal level and to instead join with Senator Bernardi's new party.

When Family First is wound up, the party's resources will go to the Australian Conservatives.

Senator Bernardi is the federal parliamentary leader of the Australian Conservatives.

In South Australia, Dennis Hood and Robert Brokenshire, who are both members of the State Upper House, will switch from Family First to representing the Australian Conservatives.

Immigration Minister Peter Dutton said the amalgamation was a natural fit.

"My sense is that it was inevitable," he told Sky News.

Mr Day's election to the Senate at last year's poll was ruled invalid by the High Court after it was found a property he owned had been leased to the Commonwealth, contrary to law.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-04-...n-conservatives-family-first-to-merge/8471244