I am the Kat that Walks By Itself

97 parties...what...

No, no, not 97 parties, 97 candidates!
Minor parties field two or possibly three candidates, major parties would field half-a-dozen. So it's not that bad.

And most people don't keep them all straight. Most people just decide between Liberal, Labour, and Greens, and are pretty random about the rest. Besides which, the minor parties often have their politics in their name, because they know that for most people, seeing the name on the ballot is the first time they've heard of these people.

Minor party names can be as entertaining as band names.
Here are some real, actual minor party names from this year's ballot:

Help End Marijuana Prohibition (HEMP)
Secular Party
No Carbon Tax Climate Sceptics
Bank Reform Party
Stable Population Party
Smokers Rights Party
Fishing And Lifestyle Party
Building Australia Party
Stop CSG Party -- "CSG" stands for "Coal Seam Gas" mining.
Animal Justice Party
Australian Motoring Enthusiast Party
Wikileaks Party
Australian Sex Party
Stop The Greens
Drug Law Reform
Bullet Train For Australia
Socialist Equality Party
Pirate Party

One year there was even a Party Party Party Party. (grin)