An alliance of well-known Australians has launched a centre-right political machine in a bid to rival union-backed activist group GetUp! and vowed to campaign as a registered third-party organisation against the Left ahead of this year’s election.

The group, Advance Australia, will run its first major campaign against Labor’s plan to scrap ­imputation dividend refunds, the so-called retiree tax, as well as a grassroots movement to keep Australia Day unchanged.

Luke Grant is joined by Gerard Benedet, the National Director of Advance Australia, who also flags a direct counter campaign to GetUp!-led attacks on sitting conservative Liberal MPs...