Media release
The Palmer United Party has decided not to field a candidate in this month’s Stafford by-election in Queensland.
Palmer United Party federal leader and Member for Fairfax, Clive Palmer, said the party had opted against standing in the July 19 poll in Brisbane because it was fully focussed on the coming Queensland election as well as the Victorian election due in November.
Mr Palmer said support for the Palmer United Party in Queensland since the September 2013 federal election had continued to grow.
“The Palmer United Party was a resounding success in Queensland at the federal poll just eight weeks after it was registered by the Australian Electoral Commission,” Mr Palmer said.
“I won the seat of Fairfax from the Liberals while Glenn Lazarus was elected to the Senate.
“Since the federal election, we have received massive interest from a wide range of worthy people who want to be Palmer United Party candidates at the Queensland election and we will field a very strong team.”
The Palmer United Party, which holds the balance of power in the Senate, is already represented in the Queensland parliament through state leader Alex Douglas and deputy Carl Judge.
“Queenslanders can’t wait for the next state election to punish Campbell Newman with their votes for his government selling our schools and hospitals and outsourcing services,” Mr Palmer said.