After Outpolling the Greens, Where Do Australia’s Minor Conservative Parties Go From Here?

Not Left, not Liberal: Australia’s minor conservative and right-leaning parties won about 12 percent of the national vote.

People queue outside the Clovelly Surf Life Saving Club election polling booth next to campaign signage featuring former Opposition Leader Peter Dutton and One Nation leader Pauline Hanson in Sydney, Australia on May 3, 2025. Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images

Disillusioned by the Liberal Party’s perceived drift from its conservative roots, a surge of right- and conservative-leaning parties have emerged in recent years.

And the 2025 election was no different.

While Labor may have won the election, smaller parties on the right of the political spectrum (excluding the Liberal and National parties) absorbed about 12 percent of the overall vote—more than the Greens (11.9 percent), and the Climate 200 (Teal) independents.

From the well-known One Nation, to the Christianity-focused Family First, they believe they can continue to make a difference.

This is what they had to say about the result and their plans for the future.

Ballots are seen during counting following the close of polls in Australia's general election at a polling station in Melbourne, Australia on May 3, 2025. Martin Keep/AFP via Getty Images

One Nation to Continue Fight for the Bush, Tradies

This election saw the well-known One Nation party receive 931,272 votes, a 1.4 percent improvement on the previous election in 2022. Senator Malcolm Roberts was also re-elected.

Party Leader Pauline Hanson said she was pleased with the result, while criticising the Liberal Party for being too reactive to Labor’s campaign.

“Their election campaign was ridiculous; [Peter Dutton] never fought back at all,” Hanson told Sky News Australia.

The senator said there could be tough times ahead under the current economic agenda.

“But One Nation will be there to fight for you, and to fight for our nation’s future,” she wrote on X.

“From the bush to the suburbs, from tradies to small business owners, from families doing it tough to communities feeling ignored we’ve heard you loud and clear. And we’re not backing down.”

Senator and One Nation leader Pauline Hanson speaks in Sydney at CPAC Australia on Aug. 20, 2023. Wade Zhong/The Epoch Times

Family First to Contest South Australia, Victoria Elections

Nationally, the Christian-based party, which built its brand in the 2000s and re-emerged to contest recent elections, received 256,363 votes, about 1.8 percent of the national vote.

“This is extraordinary and exceeded expectations,” National Leader Lyle Shelton said in a statement.

“It qualifies Family First for significant electoral funding, which otherwise would have gone to the major parties.”

Shelton said that while the party had not won seats this time, a foundation had been laid, as well as brand awareness.

“A foundation has now been laid for success in South Australia next March where Deepa Mathew will run for the Upper House,” Shelton wrote on Facebook.

“Our chances are also good at next year’s Victorian election, and I started work this week on the New South Wales election which is just 22 months away.

“And in breaking news, we have just received word from the NSW Electoral Commission that Family First is now registered in NSW, allowing us to contest the 2027 state election.”

The party is known for tackling “culture war” issues including abortion, euthanasia, transgenderism, and encouraging the development of nuclear families.

Senate Candidate Lyle Shelton attends the Australian Conservatives campaign launch at the Surfers Paradise Marriott Resort on the Gold Coast, Australia, on April 30, 2019. Richard Szabo/The Epoch Times

Libertarians Stand Behind Lower Taxes

The Libertarians, which have traditionally focused on smaller government and lower taxes, received 79,205 votes, about 0.5 percent of the voting pool.

The Libertarians weren’t able to secure a single seat this time, despite a strong showing at the NSW council and state elections.

“When other political parties have a disappointing election result, they typically announce they will scrap the old policies and by the next election will have sparkling new ones,” Leader John Ruddick said on X.

“The Libertarian Party is a party of principle. When we get the votes to win, great ... but if we don’t the principles unflinchingly remain.”

Some of their more novel ideas include an income tax-free threshold of $50,000 for individuals, and $100,000 for couples, indexed to inflation. The minor party also suggests a flat tax rate of 20 percent for those above the threshold.

Ruddick, a former Liberal member, intends to keep running Libertarian candidates in future elections, and encouraged interested individuals to join.

Gerard Rennick Plans to Expand to Other States

Gerard Rennick originally ran for the Liberals when he was elected as a senator.

He later formed his own party, People First, which stands for lower income taxes, voluntary superannuation, the streamlining of government, and Australian asset ownership. It secured 0.5 percent of the national vote on its first outing, 67,688 votes.

Rennick spoke to The Epoch Times about losing his Senate seat and what it meant for the party’s future.

“At this stage, the intention is to keep the party going, but how it goes, time will tell,” he said. On Facebook, Rennick says he will be setting up branches in Queensland, and divisions in other states.

Liberal Senator Gerard Rennick during Senate Estimates at Parliament House in Canberra, April 6, 2022. AAP Image/Mick Tsikas

Rennick said he ran “real candidates who worked really hard.”

“I did put a lot of effort into it,” he said. Many People First candidates were ex-military and had high qualifications.

Rennick said his stance on the COVID vaccine likely cost him votes, but it was a cause he could not back away from.

“I knew I was a marked man when I went rogue on the COVID vaccine but I couldn’t stand by and let people be injured,” he said.