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The Federal Leader of the United Australia Party, Clive Palmer, announced today that the party executive had endorsed 17 candidates to contest Queensland lower house seats in the 2019 Federal Election.

Mr Palmer said the party was interviewing further candidates for the remaining Queensland seats, to be announced in the coming weeks.

The United Australia Party candidates endorsed so far in Queensland are Majella Zimpel (Blair), Simon Flitcroft (Bonner), Shane Clarke (Bowman), Lindsay Sturgeon (Capricornia), Colin Thompson (Dawson), Stephen Austin (Dickson), Mara Krischker (Fadden), Jacob Rush (Flynn), Paul Creighton (Forde), Christian Julius (Griffith), Susan Bertuch (Kennedy), Jeanette Sackley (Leichhardt), Bailey Maher (Longman), Fiona Mackenzie (McPherson), Garry Eilola (Moncrieff), Carl Grading (Moreton), Shyamal Reddy (Rankin).

“We are hearing very clearly that Australians are sick of the same-old, same-old from Liberal and Labor,” Mr Palmer said.

“For the first time Australia has real choice instead of the duopoly that Liberal and Labor have created by voting together to keep other alternatives out of the Federal parliament.

“The established parties talk about helping the country but all they’ve ever done is stifle political alternatives,” Mr Palmer said.

“Unlike them, the United Australia Party is not comprised of career politicians. We are a party made up of genuine Australians who want to serve the country, to change the course of history and steer in a bright new era for Australia,’’ he said.

“Hardworking Australians are looking for an effective alternative and that alternative is the United Australia Party. We will provide the strong leadership, the vision, the policies and the plan to make Australia great,’’ Mr Palmer said.

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Secure jobs through a fairer tax system, downstream mineral processing in Australia, tax-deductable home loans, lower power prices and support for the bush were at the heart of the UAP’s plan for a better Australia, Assistant NSW State Director, Suellen Wrightson, announced today.

“All Australians want to enjoy a better lifestyle and look ahead to a brighter future for their family,’’ Ms Wrightson said.

“We need bold new ideas to stimulate our economy, drive growth and increase revenue. The United Australia Party has the policies to make Australia great,’’ she said.

Mrs Wrightson said the UAP would turbo charge the economy by overhauling the way taxes were paid to ensure businesses and contractors were given the help they needed to succeed.

“We need to expand domestic demand and we can stimulate the economy by changing the way tax is paid by companies.

“Instead of paying tax in advance, based on an estimate of figures, we should allow companies to pay tax based on their actual figures at the end of the year after they have made the money.”

Ms Wrightson said this measure would result in more than $70 billion being released into the economy.

“Each time $70 billion is spent, the government gets 10% GST. That’s an extra $7 billion in revenue for schools, hospitals and infrastructure,’’ she said.

She said the UAP would also create jobs and generate more revenue by encouraging the use of the mineral resource wealth of Western Australia and Queensland to support downstream manufacturing in states and territories that don’t have those resources.

“Japan has become the world’s third largest economy by processing Australian resources.  The cost of energy is more expensive in Japan and Japan suffers from the tyranny of distance. Wages are also higher, yet Australia sells its mineral ores at a low price per tonne and Japan sells final products for 10,000 more.

“Processing Australian resources at home will create jobs, increase exports and provide a higher standard of living,’’ Ms Wrightson said.

Encouraging home ownership and lessening the strain on families by reducing power prices are other key United Australia Party policies.

“We propose to make home loans tax deductible to encourage home ownership and boost the construction industry.

“The best life for Australians is a happy family life. The United Australia Party will help Australian families by reducing power prices. We will order a state-by-state review of the power company infrastructure loans we’re all paying for,’’ Ms Wrightson said.

The UAP would also support long-neglected regional Australians with zonal taxation incentives and greater support for farmers in times of natural disaster and hardship.

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Federal Leader of the United Australia Party, Clive Palmer, said today that cyber-attacks by China on Australian political parties were nothing new.

Mr Palmer said that in 2013 he received confirmation from the police that the former Palmer United Party had been hacked by the Chinese.

“What we are witnessing now with the Liberal and Labor parties being hacked is a continuation of what happened to us. It is an ongoing serious threat to Australia and our democracy,’’ Mr Palmer said.

“This is a major concern for our political stability and our economy.

“The Chinese interfering so obviously, on top of the major donations to being made to political parties, is an attempt to infiltrate our country from all angles.

“Australia needs to protect Australia and stop this interference now,’’ Mr Palmer said.

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The United Australia Party has endorsed candidates for the Victorian lower house seats of Gellibrand, Kooyong, Goldstein, Menzies and Hotham, Federal Leader Clive Palmer announced today.

The candidates are life coach Lisa Bentley (Gellibrand); business owners Steven D’Elia (Kooyong) and Wayne Connolly (Goldstein); aged care worker Brett Fuller (Menzies) and machine operator Jin Luan (Hotham).

Married with two young boys, Lisa Bentley, has lived in the Gellibrand electorate for more than 40 years, running as an independent in the 2018 Victorian election for the seat of Williamstown.

She completed a Bachelor of Social Science in 2012, was employed as Career Pathways Coach for two years at Brentwood Secondary College after completing 250 hours of placement and later opened a life coaching business as a sole proprietor in Williamstown.

Lisa has been actively involved in the community as a volunteer youth football coach and is a member of multiple sporting organisations.

Steven D’Elia trained as a sign-writer and started business at 20 years old, performing work for clients including the National Tennis Centre, Stockland Developments and various other corporate and commercial companies.

Currently involved in small business coaching, he also believes in giving back to the community and has undertaken several volunteer roles including foster care, Make-A-Wish Foundation and most recently took time off to teach EFL English to students in Indonesia and Russia.

“I am excited to join the United Australia Party and stand up for everyday day Australians who are being neglected by the major parties,’’ he said.

Married with a young son and with another child on the way, Wayne Connolly has worked hard in the local area his whole life, running small businesses and working in telecommunications and IT.

He is an avid start-up investor and educator with B.Sc. of Chemistry and a Graduate Certificate in Computing Systems.

A long-time printing machinist, Brett Fuller changed his career path in 2006 becoming a personal care attendant with Estia Health.

Married with three sons, the Ferntree Gully resident has strong family values and a great work ethic. He is actively involved with local sporting clubs and schools.

A machine operator with Corex Plastics in Dandenong, Jin Luan joined the United Australia Party to fight for a fair go for ordinary Australians.

He has worked in a variety of roles including tool making, small business, assembly worker and factory hand.

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Federal Leader of the United Australia Party, Clive Palmer, has today lashed out at the Labor Party’s underhanded tactics in bombarding UAP office phone lines with recorded campaign messages.

“Our United Australia Party office has been inundated with robocalls from Labor in what is obviously a deliberate attempt to disrupt us from communicating with our growing membership base,’’ Mr Palmer said.

“This underhanded behaviour from Labor obviously shows the pressure they are feeling as election day approaches.

“The timing couldn’t be worse for them in reverting to such tactics, with the United Australia Party presently considering where to place our preferences,’’ Mr Palmer said.

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Federal Leader of the United Australia Party, Clive Palmer, has strongly denied he offered Tasmanian fishing identity Craig Garland funds to stand for the party.

“The United Australia Party has already endorsed an excellent candidate in Kevin Morgan to lead our Senate team in Tasmania.

“I have never met Craig Garland, he is not a member of our party and therefore not eligible to nominate for any parliamentary position in the House of Representatives or the Senate,’’ Mr Palmer said.

“Mr Garland needs to be truthful if he is interested in public service and not self-service.

“Kevin Morgan was endorsed in February 2019.  He stood for us in the federal seat of Braddon in 2013 gaining the highest vote for our party in that election in Tasmania.

“I look forward to working with Kevin in the 46th Parliament,’’ Mr Palmer said

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United Australia Party candidates have been endorsed for the Victorian lower house seats of Holt, McEwen, Wannon, Lalor and Melbourne, Federal Leader Clive Palmer announced today

The candidates are automotive business owner Jatinder “Bobby” Singh (Holt), training consultant Chris Hayman (McEwen), Fonterra worker and stock trader Joshua Wallace (Wannon), business owners Paul Smith (Lalor) and Tony Pecora (Melbourne).

Bobby Singh is well known in Holt for his community work at the Keysborough Temple and organising other social activities. He has campaigned in previous elections with the UAP and as an independent.

He has run a successful automotive business for the past 10 years, providing jobs to the local community and has previously worked as a manager and supervisor in multiple industries.

“I pledge to work hard for the people of Australia, by bringing the manufacturing industries back to our shores.

“I want our children to have a better future with better living standards,’’ he said.

Chris Hayman has a PhD from the University of NSW, an Honours Degree in Social Policy and History from the University of Sydney and a Bachelor of Social Work from the University of Melbourne.

His knowledge of McEwen electorate began in the 1990s in Hurstbridge and the wider northern area working in aged care social work. Since 2008, with his wife, he has operated a design consultancy business with a focus on Sunbury and the Macedon Ranges.

His career took him from social work with homeless, vulnerable and frail aged people to research, policy work and consultancy into operating a private training company. Community focussed, he has worked as a casual TAFE trainer teaching many residents of McEwen in both building/design related business management and in social services courses at GOTAFE Seymour, Melbourne Polytechnic at Greensborough/Epping and Kangan Broadmeadows.

Chris has continued advocacy work for customers of NDIS and My Aged Care and is very concerned about problems in support for disabled older children and youth. He has a keen focus and knowledge about building and infrastructure issues especially training, apprenticeship, retraining and job creation.

Coming from a large family of 10, Joshua Wallace has lived in the Wannon region for most of his life, specifically the Cobden area.

Josh grew up on a farm and worked on several dairy farms in the local area starting at the age of 14. This, in combination with working for several large dairy companies over the past seven years has given him a strong understanding of the importance of the dairy industry in Wannon.

An avid North Melbourne fan, he works dairy co-operative Fonterra as well as a stock trader and entrepreneur.

Paul Smith works in the warehousing and logistics industry and is also a small business owner. He has lived in the electorate of Lalor for the past 13 years, seeing it grow at one of the fastest rates in the country.

After spending the past 30 years working in the music industry Paul set up and runs an online music store and has started a record label to showcase young local musicians.

He has helped organise events showcasing local musicians and DJs. In his musical career, Paul toured Australia with bands, had international recording deals and has worked with a Melbourne based youth music program which showcases young artists and gives them exposure to some of Australia’s largest recording companies.

In 2008, Tony Pecora and a business partner founded The Green Power Company, responsible for installing thousands of solar power systems in Australia and the South Pacific.  In 2016, he opened Solar Fiji.

“I am entering politics, specifically with the United Australia Party, because I have a deep belief that freedom, liberty and strength are the defining principles on which all great civilizations are built.

“We must be optimistic about the future, but also cautious of the impediments that can stifle our freedoms, growth and creativity.

“Melbourne is a great multi-cultural city, and I hope that Melbourne will always be fair, free and strong,’’ he said.

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The United Australia Party’s North Queensland Secretary, Jen Sackley, has called for the sacking of senior One Nation advisor, James Ashby, following his shocking assault on Senator Brian Burston and his wife at Parliament House on Wednesday.

“Ashby must go, an example needs to be set,’’ Ms Sackley said.

“Australia will not tolerate this type of abuse at any level, he needs to be sacked immediately.

“A clear message must be sent back to the nation that any form of abuse will not be tolerated.

“What gives Mr Ashby the right to abuse Senator Burston and his wife?

“As a tax payer and a citizen of Australia, I call for his immediate dismissal,’’ Ms Sackley said.

“We strive every day to put a stop to abuse of any form. How do we expect to have any significant change in this unacceptable behaviour if it is tolerated where our legislators sit?

“If their workplaces are not safe and their wives can be threatened what does that say of us as a nation.

“The house of the people must make it right,’’ she said.

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State Directors of the United Australia Party have thrown their support behind their Leader in the Senate, the Hon Brian Burston, following the disgraceful attack upon him and his wife at Parliament House.

Acting National Secretary of the UAP Suellen Wrightson said she applauded the decision by Senate President Scott Ryan to strip access to Parliament House from One Nation staffer James Ashby.

“This news comes as a great relief.  The revocation of One Nation staffer James Ashby’s pass preventing him from entering Parliament House will enable our Senate leader to conduct his Senate duties safely as all Australians must be provided a safe workplace,” Ms Wrightson said.

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Clive Palmer has praised the actions of Senate President Scott Ryan in cancelling James Ashby’s access to Parliament House.

“It showed great courage and it was the right thing to do,’’ Mr Palmer said.

“The situation has been reviewed and the full extent of Ashby’s unprovoked attack on Senator Burston has obviously come to light.

“It goes to show you how rotten to the core One Nation is. It is confirmation that Pauline Hanson’s One Nation is a party of bullies which is something voters will not forgive them for come election day,’’ he said

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