IDENTITY AND STANDING

1. This Constitution identifies and governs the Libertarian Party of Queensland (LPQ), including any subordinate bodies, hereafter referred to as the “Queensland Party.”

2. All members and subordinate bodies of the Queensland Party are jointly and severally bound by this Constitution.

3. No part of the Queensland Party may adopt any rule, policy, or procedure inconsistent with this Constitution except as required by law.

4. The Queensland Party acknowledges the Libertarian Party (hereafter referred to as the “Federal Party”) Constitution and its requirements for the Queensland Party. The Queensland Party commits to operating consistently and cooperatively with the Federal Party Constitution.

PRINCIPLES

1. The Libertarian Party of Queensland is a political party that stands for individual liberty, free markets, and small government.

2. It regards government as the principal threat to these values and therefore seeks to reduce its intrusion into our lives to the lowest level possible consistent with the preservation of a civilized society.

3. It aims to restore to individuals the right to make their own choices and to accept responsibility for their consequences, on the basis that they make better decisions than the government.

Economic Principles:

– Free markets and freedom of choice
– Small government, low taxation, limited government spending, and regulation
– Widespread ownership of private property

Social Principles:

– Civil society and volunteerism
– Civil liberties and individual freedom
– Individual liberty and personal responsibility under the rule of law

Government Principles:

– Constitutional liberal democracy
– Ethical and impartial government under the rule of law
– Devolution of power including decentralized government and competitive federalism

International Principles:

– Free trade in goods, services, and capital
– Free trade in ideas and culture
– Freedom and human rights

OBJECTIVES

1. The objectives of the Queensland Party are to:

– Promote the Principles of the Queensland Party.
– Seek the election of its candidates to the Commonwealth House of Representatives and Senate in Queensland electorates.
– Federal Elections are acknowledged as a shared responsibility between the Federal Party and the Queensland Party.
– Queensland Legislative Assembly
– Local Government bodies within Queensland

2. The assets and income of the Queensland Party shall be applied solely in furtherance of these objectives, and no portion shall be distributed directly or indirectly to the members of the Queensland Party except as bona fide compensation for services rendered or expenses incurred on behalf of the Queensland Party.

3. In the event of the Queensland Party being dissolved, the amount that remains after such dissolution and the satisfaction of all debts and liabilities shall be transferred to another organization with similar purposes and which has rules prohibiting the distribution of its assets and income to its members.

MEMBERSHIP

1. MEMBERSHIP CATEGORIES

– There shall be two categories of members:
– Individual members: Individuals who are members of the Federal Party who reside in Queensland or members who are not such members and who have applied to join the Queensland Party and whose applications have been accepted.
– Affiliate members: Branches of the Queensland Party that have applied for and been accepted as affiliate members, provided that the individuals who belong to such organizations shall not become individual members of the Queensland Party by virtue of their membership of that organization.

2. INDIVIDUAL MEMBERSHIP

– Individual membership of the Queensland Party is open to any person who has not been expressly excluded from membership, has not been convicted of a disqualifying electoral offense within 10 years before the person applies to become a member, and who agrees to comply with this Constitution.
– Individual membership may be either Financial or Non-financial (Associate).
– A person may not become a member or remain a member of the Queensland Party while at the same time holding membership of another Queensland political Queensland Party, unless with the specific approval of the Queensland Party Executive.
– Individual membership shall include membership of both the Queensland Party and any subordinate bodies to which the applicant is, by virtue of his or her location, entitled to belong.
– Only individual members recognized as “Financial” by the Queensland Party Executive shall be entitled to vote on Queensland Party matters. Individual members so recognized shall have one vote each.
– Loss or relinquishment of Financial status does not, by itself, lead to cessation of membership.

3. AFFILIATE MEMBERSHIP

– Affiliate membership of the Queensland Party is open to any Branch that has not been expressly excluded from membership, which has its own constitution and agrees to comply with this Constitution and Queensland Party By-Laws.
– Affiliate members shall not be entitled to vote on Queensland Party matters because voting is a right exclusively of Financial Members of the Queensland Party, including those who are individual members of the Affiliate Member.
– Queensland Party Executive shall not allow more than one Affiliate Membership Branch in any single Queensland electorate, except that an online Branch may be established for any combination of electorates which do not have a physical Branch established and constituted.

GENERAL

1. A person who is already a member of the Federal Party and who resides in Queensland (evidenced by enrollment as a voter with the Electoral Commission of Queensland) is normally automatically a member of the Queensland Party unless a decision of Queensland Party Executive to the contrary has been made.

2. Any other person (where 4.4.1 is not applicable) who resides in Queensland wishing to become a member shall complete an application form or application forms as prescribed by the Queensland Party Executive (QPE). The QPE may prescribe the use of online forms available on the Queensland Party’s website. The person must specify details including full name, residential address, and other details as prescribed by the QPE. The person shall lodge such forms in a manner prescribed by the QPE, which may include submission via the Queensland Party website. An organization wishing to become an affiliate member shall apply in writing to the Secretary.

3. An application for individual or affiliate membership is subject to acceptance by the Queensland Party Secretary. In this, the Queensland Secretary shall comply with any direction from the QPE and with this Constitution. A person or organization whose application for membership has been accepted shall be advised accordingly. The QPE may direct the Queensland Secretary to reject any application for membership (individual or affiliate) on the ground that its acceptance would be against the interests of the Queensland Party.

4. The Queensland Party Executive may temporarily suspend any member at any time where the QPE considers this to be in the interests of the Queensland Party.

5. As soon as practical, the QPE must inform the Queensland Disputes Resolution Committee (‘QDRC’ – refer to section 8) of the suspension, including the reasons and whether or not QPE is considering an expulsion of the member.

6. The procedures for suspension of members shall (so far as time and the best interests of the Queensland Party permit) be based on the principles of procedural fairness and natural justice. These procedures shall include either advising the person or organization in writing of the suspension, or, if the QPE consider that a delay in the suspension would not significantly damage the interests of the Queensland Party, advising the person or organization in writing that the QPE is considering a suspension or requesting an expulsion. In the latter scenario, the person or organization shall be requested to respond in a timely manner, and the QPE shall endeavor to defer a decision on suspension until any such response is received and considered.

7. QPE may request that expulsion be considered of any member who is suspended, and that request must be provided without delay to the Queensland Disputes Resolution Committee, who will consider the issue further and will make a recommendation.

8. A member convicted of a disqualifying electoral offense shall not be permitted to remain a member.

9. The QPE may temporarily suspend or request consideration of termination of the membership of any individual or affiliate on the ground that it is against the interests of the Queensland Party.

10. Any member or subordinate body may recommend to the QPE that an application for membership be rejected or a member suspended or expelled.

11. Any refusal to admit a person as an individual Queensland Party Member, and any suspension or expulsion from the Queensland Party of a Member, shall be accompanied by a statement of reasons which is made available to any Queensland Party Member on request to the Secretary. This statement shall include a majority opinion as well as any dissenting opinions of members of the Queensland Dispute Resolution Committee who consider the matter and who write this statement for the final decision of QPE.

12. A person ceases to be a member of the Queensland Party if he or she dies, resigns, or is expelled from the Queensland Party by the QPE acting in accordance with recommendations by the Queensland Disputes Resolution Committee.

13. A member may at any time by notice in writing to the Secretary resign his/her membership.

14. If a member of the Queensland Party ceases to be a member, the Secretary must make an appropriate entry in the register of members recording the date on which membership ceased.

15. Membership entitlements are not transferable. A right, privilege, or obligation which a person or organization has by reason of being a member of the Queensland Party is not capable of being transferred or transmitted to another person or organization and terminates on cessation of membership.

16. The liability of a member of the Queensland Party to contribute towards the payment of the debts and liabilities of the Queensland Party or the costs, charges, and expenses of the winding up of the Queensland Party is limited to the amount, if any, unpaid by the member in respect of membership of the Queensland Party.

17. The liability of members of the Queensland Party’s governing bodies shall be the same as for ordinary members.