In 1977 then Liberal Senator Don Chipp set up The Democrats with the aim of "keeping the bastards honest'.

By 1981 Don had succeeded, with The Democrats holding the balance of power in the Senate.

By 2007 the Democrats had lost the lot, with not a single representative in the Federal Parliament.

Don Chipp died in 2006 so he's been spared the worst of the Party's death throes.   The Democrats are a copybook example of what happens when your organisation stops listening to its market/constituents/members/shareholders.

I'm sure Natasha Stott Despoja is a lovely person - but during her time the Democrats became a pale imitation of The Greens, supporters fell away and that has led to this announcement yesterday by the AEC.