From AAP

10jan02

A PARTY formed by disgruntled One Nation MPs which once held six seats in the Queensland Parliament has been deregistered in Queensland.

An Electoral Commission of Queensland spokeswoman today confirmed the City-Country Alliance, which held six seats up until the Queensland election last February, was deregistered on October 5, 2001, because it fell short of the requirement to have 500 members statewide or at least one sitting MP.

But the party remains registered at a federal level because of interstate branch numbers.

Former CCA Gympie branch chairman Ray Bird said today many CCA members had gone across to the New Country Party, which was launched in NSW in August but has yet to be registered.

The first Queensland branch of the New Country Party was formed in Gympie just before Christmas, with two more branches expected to open soon in Roma and Toowoomba.

Mr Bird said the two main factors behind the exodus were the party's poor performance at the state poll, in which it drew only 2.4 per cent of the statewide vote, and persistent accusations of members being "turncoats".

"The CCA was never in the race after the last state election," Mr Bird said.

"Once we were labelled as turncoats it seemed to stick - it was very difficult.

"Once these things start splitting they split all the way through.

"Hopefully New Country will be able to show a new direction."

CCA acting state president David Dalgleish, a former state MP who ran as an independent at the federal election, said the party was hopeful of standing candidates at the next state election.

"We are not out there doing the radical, lunatic style like some try to do just to get media attention - it's just get on with the job," Mr Dalgleish said. "We are not rebuilding - we are still growing."

He said the Hervey Bay branch, of which he was a member, had about 100 members and former CCA MPs were still active members, with plans for an annual general meeting early this year.

New Country Party Queensland spokesman Rowell Walton said the party was about halfway towards achieving the necessary 500 members to register federally.

"We are hoping to be registered halfway through this year," Mr Walton said.