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Local Townsville businessman Allan Evans said the return of Clive Palmer would create a huge employment boost for the region.

“Townsville should be celebrating Clive Palmer’s return to Townsville and the re-opening of Queensland Nickel.  I view this as a shining light on the horizon,’’ the accountant said.

“Until now there has been no other company or individual in the market with the resources ready to move forward creating jobs.

“The re-opening of Queensland Nickel will create approximately 800 direct jobs with a flow on effect of approximately 3,000 indirect jobs,’’ he said.

“The two major parties, both federal and state, have been in a circuitous maze for years, never raising their heads over the top to witness or act upon the struggles being experienced in regional Australia.

“Voters in the seat of Herbert have been ignored and languished for too long as a result of poor policy action from Brisbane and Canberra.”

Mr Evans said the United Australia Party’s focus on jobs should be applauded.

“Jobs are the derivative of infrastructure projects and business activity.

“Manufacturing and major industries require competitively priced and abundant supply of electricity and water.

“Herbert and surrounding areas are sadly lacking in these commodities. Voters rightfully expect the duly elected government to provide these infrastructures.”

Mr Evans said North Queensland needed a base load, clean coal fired power station.

“Mr Morrison talks about lower electricity prices while at the same time retaining the Paris agreement and renewable energy targets – a complete oxymoron.

“Should Bill Shorten become Prime Minister, with a 50% renewable energy policy, power prices will rise probably 200%.

“Labor repeatedly strangles jobs in regional Queensland.  The Green tail is wagging the red dog with the focus mainly on South East Queensland.

“Government delays in the start-up of Adani with the continuous shifting of the goal posts are an absolute disgrace,’’ he said.

“The underlying threat here, should Labor win the upcoming federal election, is that Shorten will introduce legislation to close the Galilee Basin and ban all coal mining in Australia.

“Jobs are being denied to workers who are ready to start.  Businesses in Herbert and regional areas are missing out on revenue from mine procurements.  Landlords are missing rent from fly in fly out workers and contractors,’’ Mr Evans said.

“Regional towns will soon be economically starved into non-existence.

“People without work will become slaves to the ever-increasing hand-out mentality of today.

“Adani’s very first approvals were given on May 8, 2014 with 190 conditions.  On July 29, 2014, the federal minister for mines gave approval with 36 conditions,’’ he said.

“We have since then had numerous setbacks – the yakka skink, waxy cabbage palm, ornamental snake and now the black throated finch – to name a few.

“Adani is being stymied by both sectors of government to appease the Greens while the economy of Queensland is ignored.  Adani has the potential to benefit the Queensland economy to the tune of an estimated $2.9 billion every year for 60 years.”

Mr Evans said more dams for the region were another necessity.

“Major infrastructure projects are necessary to provide reliable and sustainable living conditions and jobs for all of Australia.

“Burdekin Falls Dam Stage II would benefit not only the electorate of Herbert, it would support a large part of regional Queensland.

“The original Stage II initially planned for the wall to be raised to 14.6m above the current spillway.  This would increase, by almost five times, the Burdekin Falls Dam’s current 1.8 million mega litre storage, and include a 500MW hydro-electric power station,’’ he said.

“Land has already been acquired for the foot print of the increased capacity of the dam.  The additional capacity will irrigate land out to the Galilee Basin and south past Mackay as well as the Herbert-Burdekin region.

“Unless change is forthcoming to Australian politics, Australia will never again be called the lucky country.

“We need a strong and progressive party to restore Australia’s pride and prosperity.

“The United Australia Party is the only party with the vision and ability to make Australia great again.”

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The executive of the United Australia Party has endorsed Mike Rose as its candidate for the federal seat of Farrer in NSW.

A former manager for an employment company, Mike joined the United Australia Party to deliver accountability in Canberra for people of the Farrer region.

“The Liberal Party has sold out the Farrer electorate and it’s time to put Aussies first,’’ he said.

“The Liberal party is in chaos and so too is the Labor party.

“I have decided to come out of retirement because I am fed up with what is happening in federal politics and the enormous waste of taxpayer’s money.

“I am sick of the lack of respect current politicians are showing to the Australian people in regards to their needs and concerns including the security of our nation and its resources.

Mike was born in Sydney and moved to Mathoura over 18 years ago. He has an extensive background in management and has operated his own business.

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The United Australia Party has endorsed Ronald Fielder as its candidate for the SA lower house seat of Spence, Federal Leader Clive Palmer announced today.

Mr Fielder is a proven communicator and was a licensed auctioneer and real estate agent with over 15 years in real estate sales and agency management.

He now operates his own business providing mentoring, coaching and business support to new industry agents, and he volunteers his time helping tenants to negotiate issues and solutions with their landlords. He also operates an airport transfer service to and from the Barossa Valley.

Mr Fielder advocates taking responsibility and accountability for his actions and always striving for personal improvement.

“I will ensure all voices are heard by meeting and listening to my community all year round. I see the need for more practical solutions to address everyday community needs,’’ Mr Fielder said.

Mr Fielder enjoys entertaining with his wife Karen and his three step children and his personal interests include AFL and horse racing, history, global affairs, travel, sailing and hiking.

“I have joined the United Australia party and Mr Palmer to give a voice back to the people,’’ he said.

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FEDERAL Leader of the United Australia Party, Clive Palmer, confirmed today that he would not partake in requested interviews with the fake media so they could gain credibility.

“For too long media have been doing the same thing and expecting a different result. The media in this country want to control outcomes so they make up fake news,’’ Mr Palmer said.

“News organisations have had budgets cut significantly and services have declined. They have simply made up news to try and stay relevant.

“Many interviews are significantly altered to incorrectly portray an original interview. So many stories are sourced via other journalists, which is a pathetic state of affairs.

“I’m only spending advertising dollars on TV in this country to offer balance and to position real facts correctly.

“The United Australia Party wants to put Australians first and wants the Australian media to stop with its fake news,’’ he said.

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The United Australia Party’s Tasmanian Senate Leader, Kevin Morgan, says the state needs a special economic zone to open the doors to private investment and jobs growth.

“Under a United Australia Party platform, we will create the opportunity zone for the future.

“Today Tasmania needs an economy that builds career paths for our children leaving school with guaranteed jobs.

“Every child must have job and not have welfare as their start in life. The best welfare is a job and all Tasmanians deserve equal opportunity.

“Liberal and Labor have failed this state and this country now for decades. Youth unemployment, poverty and homelessness are on the rise and no one else can be blamed.”

Mr Morgan said Tasmania would benefit greatly from Collaborative Clever Communities.

“The CCC effect is a proven model used successfully by the OECD to drive local initiatives and forge bridges and fix broken links between industry players.

“Australia needs to realise that Tasmania can build its future it just simply needs the support required for this new economic vision,’’ he said.

“Tasmania is an island with a population just exceeding 500,000 people, as such it has unique qualities that do not apply across the nation.

“Isolated by Bass Strait, it means our economy and our populace is also disadvantaged by transport in that shipping to national and international markets by sea limits and restricts us in time, volume and costs.

“With a small population and an economy that has gone through radical change over the last 40 years we see today an economic change starting to happen.

“However, today we are highly reliant on the mining industry and our fast-growing fish-farming sector which have overtaken dairying and tourism.

“Our weaknesses are that we see our state and our country reliant on others in most cases. The diversity we need is not to rely on a few markets because at some point, this will see us drastically affected by changing dynamics,” Mr Morgan said.

“Today China is our hero, tomorrow it maybe our real Achilles’ heel. That does not mean we stop our China dealings, it simply means we need to rely less on China and build more diverse economic ties.

“Indonesia, India, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and other ASEAN nations are close neighbours and growing economies.

“Japan, Korea, the USA, and the UK, will always be a part of our export mix and maybe a larger part going forward.

“However today it is here in Tasmania where we need to build a far more dynamic economy.

“To do this we need to bring more private investment into our state. To entice private investors, you have to create opportunity around investment.

“Today there is no enticement under Liberal and Labor and the Greens have killed it stone dead.

“Over the last few decades we have seen this stifled by insecurity around our political climate with the Greens having stopped multiple projects such as Gordon below Franklin hydro, the pulp mills at Wesley Vale and the Tamar Valley, forestry and mining.

“These major road blocks have hit our state significantly and dried up the private investment that today should be seeing our state blossom in many new ways,’’ he said.

The United Australia Party is fielding outstanding candidates for the House of Representatives in Tasmania including café owner and Tasmanian Football Hall of Fame inductee Darren Winter (Franklin), champion Tasmanian racing driver Allan Roark (Bass), finance broker Mick Warne (Lyons) and hospitality business owner Karen Spaulding (Braddon).

Mr Morgan is joined on the senate ticket by respected educator David Williams.

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The United Australia Party executive has endorsed Antonio Rea as its candidate for Adelaide for the 2019 federal election.

Born and raised in Adelaide and a beloved North Adelaide supporter, Mr Rea has worked his way around Australia and overseas.

With current experience as a national procurement manager and a long term food service, healthcare and hospitality professional supplying aged care, hospital and remote catering institutions, Mr Rea understands the need for leadership and team work as well as the pressures faced everyday with rising cost of living and exorbitant electricity prices.

As a happily married family man of 20 years with three teenage sons, Mr Rea is passionate about grasping all opportunities, contributing to community and enhancing the education, health and the important wellbeing of every day Australians.

“I can see that Australians have had enough of the approach our politicians take. Politicians are in a bubble and they don’t see real-world pressures everyday Australians face,’’ he said.

“For too long now we have endured politicians acting like children and worrying about what the polls say.  True leadership is about integrity and truly valuing your people and community,” Mr Rea said.

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The United Australia Party executive has endorsed Rodney Chilcott as its candidate for Moore in Western Australia. 

As a happily married family man with children, Mr Chilcott is passionate about contributing to community and making a tangible difference with a team.

Mr Chilcott found his true passion for sport management after starting out with a printing trade and working in dredging and resources. He owned and ran sports stadiums in Malaga and Ballajura for 27 years and started his own business, Rocket Sports, exporting sporting goods to several countries.

Mr Chilcott was awarded The Australian Sports Medal in 2000 for his commitment to sports and helping street kids.

His leadership extends to a 20 year Presidency at W.A. Indoor Sports (20 years) and Vice Presidency at Indoor Sports Australia for 12 years. Cricket is a great love and Mr Chilcott has successfully played and coached at Australian Level, winning multiple World Cups in Australian Indoor Cricket and ‘Most Successful W.A. State Indoor Cricket Coach’ at National Level.

“I am passionate about children in sport in particular and also the need and wellbeing of older aged people in sport. I see that sport and physical activity is very important to one’s health and I am driven to reduce medical costs to the government of the day,” Mr Chilcott said.

“My vision is to build a better place for all and now that I have the time and ability to achieve this I have joined the Australia party to give 200% of my effort,” he said.

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The United Australia Party has endorsed Brenden Hatton as its candidate for the WA lower house seat of Durack, Federal Leader Clive Palmer announced today.

Durack candidate Mr Hatton has had 30 years mechanical experience in Australia and the UK plus 20 years involvement in the mining and refining industry. Mr Hatton is a tireless contributor to community causes, previously working with the local sea rescue group and now with his local karate club.

A large portion of Mr Hatton’s mechanical experience was acquired at his local mineral refinery. In addition to his automotive mechanical trade qualifications, Mr Hatton has broad expertise in mobile plant and fixed plant maintenance, specializing in automotive electrical, hydraulics and pneumatics.

He also ran his own environmental business Oxyjet Australia for five years, addressing water quality and density issues throughout Western Australia via land base and remote-controlled boats.

Mr Hatton is married to primary school teacher Annette and they raise their three children. Family time together is spent travelling and on recreation and he also personally enjoys Karate, scuba diving, recreational boating and fishing.

“I feel very strongly about engaging in the political arena to try to give my family the best future both within Australia and as our country competes in the world,’’ he said.

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The United Australia Party has endorsed fire engineering consultant Robert Forster as its candidate for the lower house WA seat of Pearce, Federal Leader Clive Palmer announced today.

Mr Palmer said Mr Forster joins an outstanding list of United Australia Party candidates looking to shake up the status quo and deliver proper representation to the people of WA.

A former East Ward councillor for the Shire of Mundaring, Mr Forster has belonged to multiple local organisations and committees including the Wooroloo Landcare Development Committee, Chidlow Recreational Organisation Committee, Mt Helena Recreation Group Committee and President of the Chidlow Ratepayers Association.

With a strong background in fire and emergency management, he is presently self-employed providing consultancy services on fire engineering, policy development and incident management as well as running his own business transporting horses.

Mr Forster has previously worked as a Superintendent for Operational Effectiveness and in other senior positions with the Fire and Emergency Services Authority of Western Australia and was a fire fighter with the Australian Army.

He also served as a Fire and Safety Advisor for the United Nations in Bosnia, Herzegovina (UNPROFOR) in 1994/95 during the Balkans conflict.

Mr Forster has lived in the village of Chidlow, Western Australia, on the rural fringe for over 30 years and owns a farm in Talbot, 22 kilometres southwest of York, in the electorate of Pearce.

Married for 44 years with children and grandchildren, his interests include riding and training horses and spending time with family.

“I am an honourable, patriotic Australian with a rich family heritage and I am concerned about Australian sovereignty, independence, prosperity and its ability to provide for our people now and future generations,’’ he said.

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The executive of the United Australia Party has endorsed small business operator Richard Foley as its candidate for the federal seat of Riverina in NSW.

A former federal independent candidate, Richard joined the United Australia Party to deliver accountability in Canberra for people of the Riverina region.

“The National Party has sold out the Riverina and regional Australia and it’s time to put Aussies first,’’ he said.

“The National Party is in chaos and Michael McCormack looks like getting dumped as leader.

“If the LNP government falls and Mr McCormack holds this seat how long will it be until voters go to another by-election?”

Mr Foley said it’s time for a rural revolt against Canberra.

“It’s time we put an Aussie battler in parliament,’’ he said.

Mr Foley was born in Narranderra and grew up in Wagga Wagga. He has an extensive background in farming and horticulture, currently running a vermiculture business as well as plastering business and has previously worked in construction, at one time restoring castles and government buildings in Ireland.

In 2016 he ran as an independent for the federal seat of Riverina coming third with 6.2% of the primary vote on a campaign budget of $3000.

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