Cory Bernardi's fledgling right-wing party is setting its sights on Victoria and is poised to campaign on energy prices and killing off the Safe Schools program at next year's state poll.
The Australian Conservatives have made an application to the Victorian Electoral Commission to be registered so it can run candidates in the election on November 24, 2018.
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Australian Conservatives merge with Family First
With Senator Bernardi set to gain thousands of members, finances and two state MPs, how will the new conservative marriage between him and Family First impact the federal political landscape?
Senator Bernardi told Fairfax Media that the party would run candidates in selected seats including the upper house where he believes there is a chance to strengthen the conservative voice in Victoria.
Family First, which the Australian Conservatives merged with, won just 1.1 per cent of the lower house vote in 2014 and 1.8 per cent of the upper house vote.
"There always needs to be a principled and conservative voice shaping policy for whoever forms government," Senator Bernardi said.
He said policies would be released once the party had set up on office in Victoria and candidates were announced but he did identify energy and power as major issues for his party, as well as Safe Schools.
"In Victoria the propaganda continues, the education system should be about learning not indoctrination," he said.
The party would not reveal how many members it had in Victoria other than to say it is in the thousands and was second only behind NSW.
"The interest in Australian Conservatives is very strong and we hope that translates to electoral success."
While he does not personally know Opposition Leader Matthew Guy, Senator Bernardi said he thought Mr Guy was doing a good job and striking a chord with voters.
"The ideology of the Andrews government is trumping good political outcomes which is not good for the state," he said.
A former Liberal member, Senator Bernardi said preferences would not necessarily flow to the Liberal party in Victoria.
Liberal Party President Michael Kroger wished Senator Bernardi well but did not think the new party would have much impact in Victoria.
The view was shared by Labor figures who said the arrival of the party could fragment some of the Liberal and Nationals vote.Â
Under state electoral rules there is month-long period where the public can object to registrations. Â
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