ABSTRACT
This chapter examines how Australian far-right parties operate in practice. Through interviews with candidates and party office-bearers from three Australian far-right parties, this chapter analyses the extent of party organisation in terms of party structures, leadership and decision-making, candidate selection, and how the election campaign was conducted. This chapter highlights the failures of Australian far-right parties to invest in party building. It shows that they have failed to develop a party apparatus capable of managing national election campaigns, with few meaningful opportunities for rank-and-file members and supporters to participate in party life, and a poor supply of election candidates. This chapter concludes with a discussion of why candidates give time to parties which provide them no support or opportunities for input, arguing that affective bonds to party leaders sustains participation in the short term.
