If senate candidates are not members of a party, they are listed below the line. This is somewhat of a disadvantage as only a small number of voters vote below the line.

For this reason the incumbent independent senator Nick Xenophon has registered his own 'party'[1] -- the Nick Xenophon Group -- and will now appear above the line as well.

[1]: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-07-02/nick-xenophon-has-poli...