For the benefit of those who prefer short answers, I offer a TLDR (Too Long: Didn't Read) after each entry. Even my full text is far too simplistic to be called a summary, so the TLDR is always going to be far too simplistic. Please read the rest.
This list is taken from the parties currently registered for the NSW State election.
The Animal Justice Party's policies include increasing the rights of animals, promotion of healthy diets
i.e. "Our key dietary goal is to shift Australia’s food focus towards healthy plant-based wholefoods. This will greatly reduce the rates of many illnesses."and human population control (zero population growth). The AJP's other policies are a demonstration of the pitfalls of single issue parties. Their policy on Mental Health amounts to animal rescue, which does make you feel better, but probably won't cure many of the kinds of ailments that come under that label. Their Employment policy aims to phase out jobs that exploit animals and Education policy aims to change student values "starting at the canteen and extending into science classes." Mark Pearson is the only sitting (legislative council) member for the party, and his questions in the assembly perfectly match his single issue.
TLDR: Not a bad cause, but unbalanced in its approach to human issues.
The Australian Conservatives are Cory Bernardi's breakaway group (2017) which was formed to provide a 'more conservative' voice in politics. At first blush the Australian Conservatives seem compatible with Christian ideals, claiming to support families and the "Western values" based on our Judeo-Christian heritage. This includes advocating against "Safe Schools" programme, against same sex marriage, against abortion and for freedom of religion. The claim to support families, however, does not appear to impact on their tax, education or welfare policies, which seem to follow the usual fiscal conservative line. These policies may be conservative, but Christianity is not conservative (or liberal). Their "religious freedom" seems to be only for Christians, with policies mostly aimed at excluding or opposing Islamic influence. Specifically calling for legal, defence, and social policies that guard against such influences. While Christians may have some concerns over reports of bias against Christian immigrants, this party's opposition to helping refugees should be of concern to all Christians.
"We will withdraw from the UN Refugee Convention, and never resettle those who arrive here illegally"Christians... read the last half of that sentence again, then look up what the Bible says about refugees.
They also advocate for cutting humanitarian aid to neighbouring countries in favour of an "Australia first" policy. The link to anti-Islamic movement is underlined by Cory Bernardi's connections with the Q Society of Australia, a specifically anti-Islamic group. In fact the Q Society's president joined the Australian Conservatives, along with Kirrilee Smith, who was with the Australian Liberty Alliance and has been suggested as a NSW candidate for the Australian Conservatives. UPDATE: The first candidate on their NSW Legislative Council list is Greg Walsh, who is a Catholic Lawyer, a and a good man. Also, I have to acknowledge the Party's response to the recent horrific murders in New Zealand was appropriate.
TLDR: Possibly good on marriage and life issues, not so good on welfare, dangerous fear-mongering regarding minorities, foreigners and refugees.
The Labor Party have been following a strong and blatant anti-Christian line for a few years now, insisting all candidates must be pro abortion, and pushing hard for "Safe Schools" and similar propaganda, while specifically targeting Catholics and other Christians. The pro-worker, stand-up-for-the-weak style policies that used to attract Catholic voters are a thing of the past. The best we can say of Labor in that department is that they are slightly less bad (in this area) than the alternative. About the only spark of interest is in their leader, Michael Daley, who seems to be far less keen to follow the party down the anti-Christian rabbit hole. Christians might like their policies to end wage theft from low paid workers and I personally have soft spot for their policy to prevent "no grounds" evictions, and they do seem to have a closer eye on environmental, education and hospital funding. Unfortunately the usual "spend-into-debt" pattern seems evident. While Labor policy is officially in favour of funding Catholic schools, they oppose almost all increases and there is an element in the Labor party pushing against funding for Catholic schools and charities. (Check out facts on Catholic school funding here) The Country Labor Party is effectively the Labor Party, trying to gain regional votes by adding "country" to their title.
TLDR: Some good ideas, but no love for Christians.
The Building a better Australia Party is another one issue party focused on cheaper housing prices in Sydney. While they have touched on a hot topic, and even secured an upper house seat in 2011, their policies are more about freeing up red tape and making things easier for those in the industry than about making housing more affordable. TLDR: Not a bad idea, but single issue.
The Christian Democratic Party has an impressive array of policies that seem in keeping with Christian values. They do nod in the direction of suspicion of immigrants, but the problem is largely with their effectiveness. The organisation itself suffers from low membership and lack of effective officers, meaning that their effectiveness is extremely limited. TLDR: In theory, not bad at all. In practice, embarrassingly ineffective.
The Flux Party is advocating "Issue Based Direct Democracy." That is, the idea that we replace parliamentary decision makers with direct public polls on every issue. I don't need to spend time explaining why this is a bad idea. TLDR: This is lunacy.
The Keep Sydney Open Party is another one issue party, in direct response to the laws shutting down Sydney's CBD to prevent violence and crime which stemmed from the early morning benders. Formed by the business interests who lost income from the closures, this is a self serving business group who are upset they can no longer make money on debauchery. TLDR: No.
The National Party, ironically began as the Progressive Party (1922-1925) but is now seen as the slightly more conservative wing of the Liberal/National coalition. In modern Australia there is nothing particular conservative about country areas, and so the Nationals representatives have become more a voice for the regional voters, specifically around infrastructure and regional issues, which was supposed to be their function from the beginning. TLDR: Yes for rural interests, No for values.
Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party has made something of a comeback recently, but is still beset with personality clashes, resignations and scandals that make them more a side show than a going concern. While she has a point that politicians have ignored or looked down their nose at the average voter for too long, she generally represents the knee jerk reaction of uninformed people looking for scapegoats. TLDR: No.
The Shooters and Fishers Party are another one issue party, but one who have proved reasonably consistent and persistent in their approach. They want freedom to engage in recreational shooting and fishing (no surprises there). They have proven more conservative than the Nationals of late and have tended to vote with the other minority right wing groups. TLDR: Meh.
The Socialist Alliance (Australia) is, as the name suggests, a branch of a worldwide socialist movement, promoting socialism as the best form of government. Allied with the Green left (the regular Greens are just a little too conservative for this bunch), they advocate for abolishing all funding to non government schools and organisations, giving total control to the (socialist) state. If those angry student protesters maintain their rage into adulthood, you can find them here. TLDR: No.
The Sustainable Australia Party, are not a single issue party, but all their policies stem from the goal of keeping Australia at a manageable level of population. Their policies range between investment in infrastructure and food production, population control through policy and taxes, immigration control and education. This is more about protectionism than environmental policy. TLDR: No.
The Greens of NSW are well known, and present many problems for Christians. While Christians would agree wholeheartedly with the need to care for the world God has made, and that pollution in the name of profits is immoral, but the persistently blatant and aggressively anti Christian rhetoric, agenda and policy of the Greens effectively rules them out. They have openly advocated for the removal of all funding to religious schools and organisations. The historical connection between the NSW Greens and communism is also of concern. TLDR: No.
The Liberal Party in NSW are a slightly different animal to the national body, but not by much. The current leader Gladys Berejiklian has a modest record of getting things done, and has appointed Dominic Perrottet as treasurer. Perrottet is an interesting development in NSW politics. Some commentators observed that his first budget seemed more a Labor budget than a Liberal one, in that it was aimed to help families, education and health. Christians who are happy with Labor's (historic) advocacy of those in need but concerned about Labor's more recent lurch to the anti-Christian, and progressive social engineering will prefer Perrottet's moderate proposals. How much he is allowed to do in a party that is traditionally stacked with investors and business interests remains to be seen. TLDR: A soft, suspicious Maybe.
The Voluntary Euthanasia Party is summed up in the name. A dangerous idea which should not receive any votes from Christians. TLDR: No.
The Small Business Party is a small party pushing for various reforms that will allow smaller business to flourish. While the effectiveness of their specific policies may be debatable, allowing small businesses to thrive in a way that genuinely competes with big business is very much in keeping with Christian distributism. TLDR: A good idea, in spite of the limited scope of their policies.
Who is missing from this list? I cannot find any reference to the Democratic Labour Party running candidates in this election. This is a little sad, given that the party has one of the best policy platforms I have seen. This seems to be a symptom of their struggle to get members and consistent support. Again, effectiveness is the issue.
For what it is worth, I think that the main issues in this election will be whether the voters even remember who the Premier is, and what the Liberals have done in their 8 year term (good and bad), or whether they vote based on their impressions of national politics. If people vote locally, I predict a return of the Libs with a decreased margin. If the state politicians cannot catch the public eye and they vote based on Morrison and Shorten, it will be a much closer call, possibly a Labor/Green minority government.
I do not hope for any particular candidate. There are none worth hoping in. For a general overview of the election, see Anthony Green's analysis.
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