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Tradesman and building trainer Stephen Austin will contest Pine Rivers for Clive Palmer’s United Australia Party in the Queensland election.

A qualified Justice of the Peace, Stephen has an extensive background in the building and construction industry, working as a consultant in hazard identification, risk management, policies and procedures.

He is currently managing director of a company training apprentices in the construction industry.

“I believe young adults interested in becoming a tradie should be better assisted from Grade 10 and helped at school to follow their dreams,’’ Stephen said.

“I also believe both the current and previous governments pay too little attention to the elderly and people with disabilities in our community.

“I would like to see a program for the elderly to assist in the training of our youth in work skills and the ability to bridge the generations.

“Our governments fail to adequately assist small businesses in the community and there seems to be an almost total lack of manufacturing of Australian goods,’’ he said.

“There should be programs and assistance for these to get started again.  We need a government with real people representing the real voters.  I think a long term approach to climate change is also necessary.

“As politicians, we need to be accountable and regularly hold forums for people to ask questions and give opinions,’’ he said.

Happily married for 38 years and a father of three, Stephen has lived the majority of his live in Pine Rivers Shire.

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Premier Mark McGowan was proving himself to be the real menace to the people of Western Australia over his unreasonable coronavirus border closure, Clive Palmer said today.

“Mark ‘The Menace’ McGowan knows the mortality rate for West Australians hasn’t increased because of COVID-19 yet he continues to mislead the people of WA for political grand standing,’’ Mr Palmer said.

“There are other highly contagious viruses, for example Hepatitis B, which result in thousands of deaths every year. COVID-19 has claimed very few lives in WA, yet has led to unprecedented border closures and devastation to the economy,’’ Mr Palmer said.

“When the federal government stops JobSeeker and JobKeeper, WA will face very uncertain times. Mark McGowan is a menace for not opening the borders and leading the great state of Western Australia forward,’’ he said.

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WA Premier Mark McGowan had no jurisdiction for denying Queenslanders entry to the state, Clive Palmer said today.

“We haven’t had any COVID-19 cases for weeks now, yet the WA Premier keeps Queenslanders out of his state. This is discrimination,’’ he said.

Mr Palmer said that under WA legislation it was also almost impossible for Western Australians to visit Queensland for a holiday.

“The McGowan Government’s stance on borders means that Western Australians wishing to visit Queensland will be locked up for 14 days on their return plus pay the quarantine costs.

“He is responsible for halting commerce between Queensland and WA, tourism is suffering and so are the people.

“Legislation being introduced into the WA parliament is not constitutional. It denies trade between states.

“This isn’t surprising. We must remember that Western Australian Labor MP and Upper House Whip Pierre Yang, a former Chinese national, was found to have been affiliated with Chinese Communist Party Groups dedicated to extending the Chinese Communist Party’s influence in Australia.

“History will show that the WA Premier will be responsible for his state going backwards,’’ Mr Palmer said.

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The surge of new COVID-19 cases in Victoria was a direct result of the badly run Labor government, Clive Palmer said today.

“It started with allowing the Black Lives Matter march and the breakdown of social distancing, all with the backing and support of the Andrews Labor government,’’ Mr Palmer said.

“The large volumes of COVID-19 cases we are now seeing are because of a hopeless Labor government, which is having ramifications for the rest of the country.

“It is indicative of a Labor government in turmoil. The Federal Labor executive has recognised branch stacking is rife and we have seen Jackie Trad the subject of a corruption inquiry in Queensland, a state led by the most incompetent premier in its history.

“Queenslanders will inevitably throw Annastacia Palaszczuk out on election day, and she won’t be offered a corporate sector job once that happens because she is incapable of producing any tangible outcomes.

“The only reason the Queensland Premier has advanced in her political career is because of favours from the faceless Labor power brokers.

“Unions are free to spend whatever they want on the upcoming election campaign to get  Palaszczuk re-elected yet  she wants to muzzle any competitors who wish to add ideas and re-stimulate Queensland.

“I am Queensland’s richest person, valued by the rich list at $9 billion and I believe it is a sorry state affairs when I can’t spend my own money on  political ideas. This Labor government doesn’t want any political competition.’’ Mr Palmer said.

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Clive Palmer is proceeding with the High Court challenge of WA’s border closure following the lifting of similar bans in Queensland.

“I would expect Mark McGowan’s WA government to follow the decision of Annastacia Palaszczuk in Queensland and re-open the borders to domestic trade and travel,’’ Mr Palmer said.

“The people need to get back to work. Business and tourism are hurting badly and we must act fast before livelihoods are broken beyond repair.

“The WA Premier is using fearmongering on borders to try and strengthen his appeal, but the people of Western Australia can see through it.

“As Roosevelt famously said…the only thing we have to fear is fear itself.

“The continued closure of the WA border is unconstitutional and political grandstanding from Mark McGowan.

“WA desperately needs courage in leadership and the ability to rebuild the economy now. He should follow the lead of PM Scott Morrison who has done an outstanding job through the pandemic crisis,’’ Mr Palmer said.

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Clive Palmer said today he was pleased his High Court challenge on border closures had resulted in Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk reopening the state.

“The decision the Palaszczuk Government has made is welcomed but it should have happened much earlier,’’ Mr Palmer said.

“The Premier has acted because she knows the High Court challenge which is likely to happen early next month would have resulted in the borders being opened.”

Mr Palmer said Western Australian Premier Mark McGowan should follow suit and open his borders immediately.

“The opening of borders should not be a political issue.

“Our state economies must keep growing and moving forward especially during the COVID-19 downturn and before JobKeeper ends.

“Thousands of jobs and livelihoods are in jeopardy while the WA border closures remain.

“This is crucial for the survival of the domestic economy and for the whole of Australia.

“There is no time to waste in getting people back to work and building prosperity,’’ Mr Palmer said.

“It is a matter of national importance that the borders be open.”

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Clive Palmer said today it was an abuse of human rights for Queensland opposition leader Deb Frecklington to be attacking his staff.

“My companies do not employ people based on their political leanings. I employ people on their ability to add ideas, value and productivity to my companies,’’ Mr Palmer said.

Mr Palmer said that his staff had political freedom and political choice.

“An individual’s political choice has nothing to do with employment within any of my companies.

“If they choose to vote for Annastacia Palaszczuk, it is a choice which I respect,’’ he said.

“The opposition leader Deb Frecklington shouldn’t be attacking my staff. It is an abuse of human rights.

“Each Australian has the right to work and contribute to society. They should be free to enjoy political independence and freedom of political association,’’ Mr Palmer said.

“Anyone who attacks one of my employees runs the risk of being brought to account before the human rights commissioner.

“The workers of Queensland and Australia should be free to enhance their careers and not be in fear of employment ramifications because of their political associations or beliefs.

“People associated with political parties do so by virtue of that party not because of their employment.  Likewise, people who hold positions within a company do so by virtue of that company.

“History will show you that I engaged with the former Labor deputy premier, Jim Elder, in the past. He brought an excellent skill set, as does Larry Anthony.

“A good government needs good leaders. We need leaders that will bring us together so we can achieve all we can be, leaders who can set a clear political and economic agenda,’’ Mr Palmer said.

“It is disappointing that Deb Frecklington needs to use my name to gain publicity for her own notoriety.”

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Former LNP life member and National Party spokesman Clive Palmer said in Brisbane today it was sad to see LNP leader Deb Frecklington publicly attacking her own party when she should be focussing on the state election at this critical time.

“The Labor party has destroyed the fabric of Queensland and reduced our wealth to the lowest in the Commonwealth,’’ Mr Palmer said.

“It is so important for Queensland that the Labor party does not win the next election.

“I would encourage all Queensland non-Labor political leaders to remain focussed on the main game and not publicly attack members of their own party.

“This election is about a four-year term. Queensland can’t afford four more years of hard Labor.

“It is important that we don’t divide the non-Labor forces and that we don’t divide the people of Queensland.

“It is not about gender, it is about good government and leadership. Men and woman all want the same prosperous future for their families.

“We need leaders that will bring us together so we can achieve all we can be,’’ Mr Palmer said.

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Clive Palmer has warned of a class action against Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk over the irrational border closures which are sending Queensland businesses to the wall.

“The Premier must be held to account for the unconstitutional border closures which are causing hundreds of millions of dollars in financial harm to Queenslanders and the economy,’’ Mr Palmer said.

“The Palaszczuk Government has no idea about leadership. They allowed thousands of people to rally over the weekend without social distancing, yet will not allow the rest of society to open.

“Queenslanders have had enough and want to hold this Labor government accountable for its actions.

“I would be happy to talk to anyone who wishes to join a class action against the Palaszczuk Government, which seems intent on bankrupting this great state.

“The Premier should do the right thing and fall on her sword now and resign.

“Why should businesses in Queensland be destroyed by her unconstitutional and misguided decisions?’’ Mr Palmer said.

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Clive Palmer has accused Premier Mark McGowan of refusing him entry to Western Australia on political grounds.

During COVID-19 restrictions, approximately 21,000 people have been allowed to enter WA, while 68 people including Mr Palmer have been refused.

“They are refusing me entry into WA purely because of political reasons,’’ Mr Palmer said.

Mr Palmer is the chairman of Mineralogy, which is the beneficiary of a WA state agreement and Government Act, while being responsible for $10 billion worth of investment in the Pilbara.

“Mineralogy receives more than $400 million per annum in royalties from my iron ore project in WA,’’ Mr Palmer said.

Mr Palmer has a full floor office in Perth’s Exchange Plaza, a home in Perth and is a member of the South Perth Yacht Club.

“I have strong links with WA.  I have lived in the state for more than 10 years and camped at the Pilbara.

“Pursuing the WA border re-opening isn’t about me, it’s about the people of WA.”

Mr Palmer said closing the borders was a breach of the Australian constitution.

“We need the people of WA to be able to plan for the future. Jobs and certainty are vitally important to rebuild the WA economy post COVID-19.

“We need to bring the Premier to account. Australia must come together as a country and not be divided.

“My purpose of needing to be in Perth was to reinvest my earnings from WA back into the state.

“The McGowan government wants to restrict economic growth at a time when it is most needed.

“I should have been granted entry to WA as one of the 21,000 who were allowed to do so. If I was from Beijing I’m sure I would have been allowed in,’’ Mr Palmer said.

“Australians must stick together.

“The Premier will be running scared when this matter goes to the High Court later this month.’’

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