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Family First is officially back.

After being voluntarily deregistered as a political party in 2017, the party that began life in March 2004 has re-entered politics in 2024.

The Australian Electoral Commission approved Family First’s application on 20 September.

In an email update, Family First’s national director – former ACL boss Lyle Shelton – wrote about the party’s successful registration, stating,

“Now, candidates like Bernie Finn, Christopher Brohier, me, and others, will appear on ballot papers at the upcoming federal election under the Family First banner.”

Thanking supporters for empowering the Family First team to go to the new level, Shelton said,

“You – and so many faithful supporters like you – have made this possible, and I’m so grateful.

“This election,” he added, “is your chance to raise a much-needed voice for faith, life and family.”

Strategy

The AEC’s official stamp of approval means Family First can now raise its budgeted AUD $500,000 election war chest, and build its supporter base.

We are so grateful to have incredible Candidates. They are locals who are committed to family, community and human flourishing for Canberrians.

Put your Family First this election in the ACT pic.twitter.com/2Jz7sMspc1

— Family First Party (@FamilyAu) September 22, 2024

Party funding, Shelton explained, will be spent strategically.

First, on a media campaign, aimed at raising awareness about the party’s profile, policies, and Judeo-Christian, pro-family agenda.

Second, on recruiting and training more candidates to work alongside current candidates for the upcoming (possibly early) federal election.

Representing New South Wales in the senate, Lyle will be joined by well-known pro-freedom, pro-life, and pro-family Victorian LNP battler Bernie Finn.

Newcomer Michael White will run for Family First in the House of Representatives as member for Indi, in northern Victoria.

Endorsed by Shelton, Finn signed on for Family First 2.0 in August last year, telling The Herald Sun,

“The major parties have abandoned families, hurting them with unnecessary climate alarmist net-zero policies that have driven up electricity prices.”

Additionally, both “Labor and the LNP have capitulated to LGBTIQA+ activists who are indoctrinating children in schools and public libraries.”

Leadership “resisting these harmful ideologies,” Finn said at the time, was non-existent.

Finn then added,

“I aim to take my passion for defending the rights of children and protecting their innocence with me to Canberra.”

Stepping up to stop social engineering, defend parental rights, and save Australia, Finn exclaimed, “I’ll fight hard.”

Family First is thrilled to have Bernie Finn on board as our Lead Senate candidate for Victoria. #auspol pic.twitter.com/37VGA39sFd

— Lyle Shelton (@LyleShelton) August 8, 2023

Restoration

According to its website, Family First exists ‘to restore Australia by restoring the primacy of family in public policy.’

The self-described “grassroots” party is dedicated, it said, to fighting “against the radical anti-family attitudes and policies of modern politics.”

This means “upholding the party’s Judeo-Christian ethic.”

An ethic that is THE “source,” they assert, “of every Australian’s freedoms regardless of ancient ancestry, new immigrant status, believer or non-believer.”

Affirming binary biological reality, Family First said that they define marriage as being between one man and one woman, “for the good of any children they conceive or adopt.”

As a minor party close to the Libertarians in sentiment, Family First said it differs in the defence of the family.

“Defending the Australian family means protecting all that we value about our culture, its people, and the Australian democratic way of life.

“All this is under threat,” they explain.

The “radical left and libertarian right challenge the very concept of family itself.”

These groups, Family First’s values statement argued, are becoming more coercive – “citizens should be free to discuss the ideal model of family and advocate for it without fear.”

Other policy fundamentals include freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of assembly, and protecting life from conception to natural death.

“Healthy families make for healthy communities,” they conclude, “which in turn make a nation strong and vibrant.”

Family First’s official AEC resurrection breathes new life into the respect for life, liberty, and livelihoods political pushback.

This is a pro-freedom party shining a national spotlight on man for woman, woman for man, both free before God, and family-centric public policy.

They will oppose Labor bypassing parental rights, beginning with its social media bans for kids under 16.

Likewise, Family First will hold the LNP to account for signalling its willingness to accommodate a Government-is-your-family, digital dystopian surveillance state.

Placed alongside the anti-family trajectory of Australia’s major political parties, Family First’s AEC registration is well-timed.

There is an inescapable element of providence directing the party’s second coming.

Shelton’s band of brothers will be well-suited to Kirralie Smith, Moira Deeming, and Dr Joanna Howe.

Any such additions to the Family First line-up would make the party a political force with as much punk rock political punch as the Liberations.