In the lead-up to the W.A. Senate by-election, we asked political parties the tough questions about where they stand on issues that matter most to GetUp members. Based on the answers we received and our research, here's how the parties stack up.

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How were the questions and answers decided upon?

The issues featured on the scorecards were determined by GetUp members through a WA membership survey. Members voted on the issues that matter the most to them, determining the key issue areas for WA voters. After these priority areas were established, GetUp developed questions relating to core policy areas under each issue.

After priority issues were established by GetUp members, a survey of core policy questions related to each issue-area was sent to all political parties featured on the scorecards. The Voluntary Euthanasia Party, The Nationals, Katter's Australian Party, Australian Motoring Enthusiast Party, Australian Sports Party, Australian Christians, Liberal Party, Sustainable Population Party, Shooters and Fishers, Wikileaks Party, Help End Marijuana Prohibition Party, Liberal Democrats, Pirate Party, Animal Justice Party, Palmer Party, Sex Party, The Greens, the Labor Party and representatives for the Save the ABC party were invited to participate in the surveying process, though not every party participated. The parties who did participate have full answers, including comments, published below.

In determining ratings, GetUp first considered political parties' survey responses (where applicable), published policy positions, statements on the record, past voting records, and other objective resources, such as policy overviews as compiled by major news outlets, recent announcements by political parties and their leaders, objective newspaper resources, and the scores on scorecards by expert issue-based groups, such as The Climate Institute.

After performing the above research and due diligence we determined the scores through the filter of what do GetUp members want based on their expressly indicated priorities and campaign actions. These scores were determined by GetUp based on the statements and actions of the featured parties based on their statement and actions as at 27/03/2014.

These ratings are provided in good faith, and with every effort to represent parties' policies accurately and fairly. If you think you've spotted a mistake, or you'd like to inquire about a rating, please email us at tips@getup.org.au.

References & clarifications

Click here to see a full Excel spreadsheet with the results of our survey, research and final answers.

Click here to see a list of clarifications, justifications and references.

The full answers from the parties

Click on the parties' name to read the questions and answers to our party survey.

Australian Labor Party
Animal Justice Party
Greens
Help End Marijuana Prohibition Party
Liberal Democrats
Pirate Party
Russell Woolf on behalf of Save the ABC
Sex Party
Voluntary Euthanasia Party
Wikileaks Party


See above for a full list of parties who were sent the GetUp policy questionnaire. If a party is not listed here, we did not receive a reply to our invitation to participate in the survey.

What's the story with preferences?

In Australia's preferential voting system, your vote is never wasted. This is because if the party you vote for receives enough primary votes to be elected, they then get to decide how to distribute the extra votes they receive - through preferences.

Preference flows can have a key impact on the outcome of an election.

So, before you head to the polls on April 5, you might want to check how the parties have distributed their preferences. If you're happy with where your vote will go, then feel free to vote above the line, by simply placing a number 1 next to your party of choice. If, however, you disagee with where a party has chosen to direct their preferences, or you have your own ideas about where you want your vote to go, you should consider voting below the line.

For the main contenders in the WA Senate by-election, we have shown the order in which each group has preferenced key candidates* with the specific ranking of that candidate given in brackets.

Australian Labor Party: Sex Party (4), HEMP (7), Greens (8), LDP (13), PUP (14), Shooters (17), Christians (18), Nationals (31), Liberal (32)
Liberal Party: Nationals (2), Christians (3), LDP (5), Shooters (6), PUP (9), Sex Party (26), Labor (28), HEMP (30), Greens (33)
Greens (WA): Labor (6), Sex Party (7), HEMP (12), PUP (22), Nationals (25), Liberal (26), Christians (27), Shooters (28), LDP (32)
Nationals: Liberal (2), Christians (5), LDP (7), Shooters (12), PUP (18), Labor (21), Greens (22), Sex Party (25), HEMP (33)
Australian Sex Party: Labor (5), HEMP (6), Greens (10), Shooters (19), PUP (22), Liberal (23), Nationals (24), LDP (28), Christians (33)
Palmer United Party: Shooters (6), HEMP (7), Nationals (14), Liberal (15), Christians (16), Labor (18), Greens (25), Sex Party (31), LDP (32)
Katter's Australian Party: LDP (5), Christians (7), HEMP (8), Shooters (9), PUP (12), Nationals (17), Greens (31), Sex Party (32)
Pirate Party: Greens (2), Sex Party (7), LDP (8), HEMP (10), Labor (18), Nationals (23), Shooters (24), PUP (26), Liberal (27), Christians (31)
Wikileaks Party: Greens (2), HEMP (3), Sex Party (4), Labor (7), PUP (17), Nationals (18), LDP (20), Liberal (22), Christians (30), Shooters (32)

For more details on preferences, and those of the other minor parties, see: http://www.tallyroom.com.au/19854.

*Key candidates are those that are the forerunners for the ten groups who polled over 1% in Western Australia in the 2013 Federal Election. There's no guarantee that these ten parties are the only parties to stand a chance of winning election, but their chance is greatest.

Questions? Queries? Spotted a mistake?

These ratings are provided in good faith, and with every effort to represent parties' policies accurately and fairly. If you think you may have spotted an error, you might like to first check out the full spreadsheet of questions and answers, and our sheet of clarifications, justifications and references.

If you've checked up on these documents and still believe you've spotted an error, or you'd like to inquire about a rating, please email us at tips@getup.org.au.

How can I be involved on Election Day?

On April 5, GetUp members will be out in force at polling booths across Perth handing out GetUp scorecards and talking to voters as they head to the polls. You don't need experience to volunteer, just some passion about the issues at stake this election.

Click here to join your local polling booth team: https://www.getup.org.au/volunteer

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If you'd like to hand out hard copies on election day, we encourage you to sign up as a GetUp polling booth volunteer. We'll take care of all the logistics - all you have to do is show up on the day!

Click here to find your local polling booth team: https://www.getup.org.au/volunteer

Authorised by Sam Mclean, Level 2 / 104 Commonwealth St Surry Hills NSW 2010.