The Rise up Australia Party is fielding candidates for both the seat of Gippsland and McMillan.
Moe’s Peter Dorian will contest Gippsland and former teacher Norman Baker will run in McMillan.
According to the party’s website, it opposes what it calls “unauthorised illegal boat arrivals” of refugees and asylum seekers, proposing to send them “back to where they came from”.
It also raises concerns about Shariah Law.
Mr Dorian said he had been called “racist” over the party’s immigration policy, however, he believed the party was not racist, citing the diverse backgrounds of its candidates.
“We don’t want to stop our colourful history. Our country was built on migrants,” Mr Dorian said.
He said he wanted anyone who arrived in Australia to respect Australian law and “denounce Shariah law”.
“We love the Muslim people, we want you here… come and migrate here, join our nation, but if you can’t respect Australian law, then you are definitely not invited,” Mr Dorian said.
According to the party’s website, it opposes same-sex marriage because it is “committed to protecting the traditional family unit”.
Mr Dorian said he believed wherever possible, children should have a male and female parent.
He said there was “no homophobia involved” and he wanted “homosexual people to feel valued and not judged on their sexuality, (rather) judged on their character and what they contribute to the nation”.
Mr Dorian is not opposed to holding a plebiscite on same-sex marriage, saying “that’s what democracy’s all about”.
He said he was opposed to the Safe Schools program.
Mr Baker said he decided to stand for election because he had seen Australia “sliding downhill” since the mid-1960s.
He also highlighted his opposition to Shariah law.
Mr Baker said a ban on Muslim immigration was a “suggestion that deserves some thought” and he wanted to “study it a bit more”.
After then making reference to the white Australia policy, Mr Baker said he was not suggesting its reintroduction, however said “I am suggesting we have a think about what they did back then”.
Raising the issue of domestic violence, Mr Baker said there was a generation of rebellious people who committed violent acts against their partners.
He said children needed to be disciplined and suggested the reintroduction of corporal punishment, saying he believed it was a “good step towards overcoming domestic violence”.
