Cory Bernardi’s Australian Conservatives to amalgamate with Family First

The Australian Conservatives party, represented in the Senate by Cory Bernardi, will amalgamate with the Family First Party, the ABC understands.

Key points:

• Family First to be wound up and resources transferred to Australian Conservatives
• Newly elected senator Lucy Gichuhi will not be part of merged party
• Peter Dutton calls amalgamation “inevitable” after departure of Bob Day

Family First has two representatives in the South Australian Parliament who will become Australian Conservatives instead.

But the ABC understands newly elected federal Family First senator Lucy Gichuhi will not be part of the merged party and is expected to issue a statement about the developments today.

Senator Gichuhi, who was confirmed just last week by the High Court as the Family First senator for South Australia to replace Bob Day, highlighted her allegiance to Family First.

“Family First is a party that shares my values and my hope for Australia and I am proud to be a member of that team,” she told reporters in Adelaide.

The decision to amalgamate the two parties means a significant consolidation of the conservative movement nationally.

It is understood to have been ratified by executives from Family First, who have resolved not to keep the party going at state or federal level and to instead join with Senator Bernardi’s new party.

When Family First is wound up, the party’s resources will go to the Australian Conservatives.

Who is Family First’s Lucy Gichuhi?

The woman to replace Bob Day is from Kenya, and has been a volunteer lawyer with the Women’s Legal Service.

Senator Bernardi is the leader of the Australian Conservatives and its sole representative in federal parliament.

Source: Cory Bernardi’s Australian Conservatives to amalgamate with Family First – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)