This week we've been looking into some of the minor parties that are gonna show up on your election ballot paper. It's important to know who they are because they make up the rest of our democratic system. So we're taking a look at who these parties are, what they believe in and what they're all about, so you can make a more informed decision come election day.

Liberal Democratic Party

The Liberal Democratic Party is all about minimizing the influence of government, and in stead promoting greater personal responsibility and greater personal freedom. They're ultra liberal and pro-choice.

What they believe in:

• Lower tax, raise the tac free threshold for low income earners.

• A Free market

• Deregulation and privatization of many services such as Australia Post, Medibank Private, and public transport

• Replacing welfare with a negative income tax for the working poor

• Unrestricted ownership of private property

• Free trade in goods, services, and culture

• Greater significance put on civil volunteerism, community mindedness.

• Restrict criminalisation of victimless crimes

• That government is unable to help environment. Care for environment comes as a local, personal and communal responsibility.

In a nutshell: The LDP is who old Henry David Thoreau would belong to. They’re pro-choice, as in letting people make their own decision without the government interfering.

The Australian Democrats

The Australian Democratic Party shares the same sort of liberalism ideals as the one above, with the notable difference being the role of government. The Aus Democrats try to be everyone’s friend, their policies are inclusive of every individual and advocate for greater social inclusion, freedom and a fair go for all.

What they believe in:

• Stops taxing low income earners – increase tax-free threshold to $25000

• Greater inclusion for disabled – national disability insurance scheme, more funding to supported accomodation

• Greater funding for the elderly and providing for their needs

• Keeping religion out of government

• Ditching the mining tax

• More accountability of government, eg. A cap on electoral campaigning

• A ntional farm and pastoral lease support program

• Greater overseas aid – increase by 0.1% of GNI until the target 0.7% is reached

• An ETS including a $20/tonne carbon tax

• Human processing of asylum seekers, on-shore and within UN obligations

In a nutshell:

The Aus Democrats have some great values which they reflect in their policies. They’re kind of like the ultimate party trying to please everyone. It looks great on the surface, but what they promise in services, they lack in actual fiscal specifics, and plans on where all this money will come from to build this utopia they speak of.