of the Country Party and the Country Liberal Party secede from their parent parties and merge to form the Country Liberal Party. 1979: The Country Liberal Party affiliates with the National Country Party and the Liberal Party of Australia. Liberal Democratic Party 2013: David Leyonhjelm of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), a libertarian party founded in 2001, is elected to the senate after receiving 9.51% of the primary vote in the state of New South Wales. Liberal leaders Protectionist, Fusion: Alfred Deakin Fusion/Liberal Party: Joseph Cook Liberal Party of Australia: Robert Menzies - Harold Holt - John Gorton - William McMahon - Billy Snedden - Malcolm Fraser - Andrew Peacock - John Hewson - Alexander Downer - John Howard - Brendan Nelson - Malcolm Turnbull - Tony Abbott - Malcolm Turnbull - Scott Morrison - Peter Dutton Australian Democrats: Don Chipp - Janine Haines - Cheryl Kernot - Meg Lees - Natasha Stott Despoja - Andrew Bartlett - Lyn Allison See also Christian politics in Australia Conservatism in Australia History of Australia List of political parties in Australia Moderates (Liberal Party of Australia) Politics of Australia Reason Party Socialism in Australia References External links Libertarian Society of Australia ABC Radio National's Hindsight - An attitude of mind and faith: liberalism in Australian political history ABC Radio National's Lingua Franca - George Megalogenis on the words 'liberal' and 'conservative' Australia Political movements in Australia