Social Democratic Party (Australia)

The Social Democratic Party (SDP) was a minor centre-left Australian political party active from 1980 to 1983. Formed in 1980, it drew inspiration from the citizen-based social democratic parties of Western Europe in Switzerland, Germany and Sweden, as distinct from trade union controlled labour parties in Britain, Australia and New Zealand. It advocated more democracy in society such as citizen initiated referenda, workers elected onto the board of large companies to reduce strikes and overpayment of directors, and harmony between trade unions and big business. The party unsuccessfully contested the 1983 Australian federal election and then supported the new Prime Minister, Bob Hawke, a social democrat, hoping for political reform. The SDP was based on a booklet called "Progress Without Poverty and Conflict" by Ted Roach.