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Federal Leader of the United Australia Party, Clive Palmer, has announced the appointment of medical worker and former elected councillor Suellen Wrightson as Shadow Minister for Families.

Ms Wrightson has a strong political background having campaigned as a Federal Senate candidate for the Palmer United Party in 2013 and serving as an elected member of the Cessnock City Council from 2012-2015 where she was a member of the Joint Regional Planning Panel for the Hunter region.

She is the United Australia Party’s candidate for Warringah, where she takes on former Prime Minister Tony Abbott and independent Zali Steggall.

Ms Wrightson is committed to helping everyday Australians and improving the lives of people in the community.

Most recently Ms Wrightson has worked it the medical field as a chronic disease management co-ordinator working closely with diabetic and asthmatic patients in addition to performing medical practice accreditation.

“I want to usher in a new era of politics, one that puts families first,” she said.

“The current crop of politicians need to be reminded they serve the people who elect them, where all decisions are made putting people and country first well ahead of party room ploys.”

Ms Wrightson said Labor and Liberal needed to remember they were elected to the House of Representatives to represent the people and listen to their needs.

“I will ensure we have a productive government that will provide prosperity for Australia. The United Australia Party will bring cohesion, collaboration and the desire to work together toward a common goal of protecting and growing Australia into a prosperous bountiful nation that is envied by the world and enjoyed by all the Aussies who call it home,’’ she said.

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The United Australia Party’s federal candidate for Leichhardt, Jen Sackley, has been appointed Shadow Immigration Minister, Clive Palmer announced today.

With a degree majoring in social sciences and a masters in social work, along with experience in running both state and federal political campaigns, Ms Sackley is well suited for the immigration portfolio.

Her extensive employment history includes work in domestic violence case management, indigenous welfare and child safety through her role at the Department of Communities.

A passionate member of her community and a Justice of the Peace, Ms Sackley has been both an organiser and participant in regional women’s business associations and actively takes part in many community or charity fundraising events.

Clive Palmer said hardworking Australians were looking for an effective alternative and that alternative was the United Australia Party.

“We will provide the strong leadership, the vision, the policies and the plan to make Australia great again,’’ he said.

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Federal Leader of the United Australia Party, Clive Palmer, has announced the appointment of the party’s WA Senate candidate leader and National Director James McDonald as Shadow Education Minister.

Mr McDonald has extensive international business experience and has been involved in many high profile mergers and acquisitions.

He worked with major global brands such as Facebook, General Motors, Agricultural Bank of China and Petrobras co-ordinating their marketing, communications and logistics being directly involved in raising over US$150bn.

“Investing in education is one of the most important things we can do for Australia,’’ Mr McDonald said.

“This is a critical time in our history. Already, a huge number of people have withdrawn support and lost confidence in the Liberal and Labor duopoly that is dragging the country down.

“That number is growing rapidly because the Liberals and Labor continually show how out of touch they are with the people they were elected to represent.”

“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 again,’’ he said.

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The United Australia Party’s Senate Leader, Brian Burston, has been appointed Shadow Minister for Defence, Federal Leader, Clive Palmer announced today.

“An experienced Senator committed to the safety and security of all Australians, Brian Burston is the perfect choice for Shadow Defence Minister,” Mr Palmer said.

A passionate Australian who cares deeply for Australian traditions, Senator Burston was elected to Federal Parliament in 2016.

A former boilermaker, draftsman and teacher, he served on the Cessnock City Council from 1987-99 where he became Deputy Mayor in 1997.

“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,’’ Mr Palmer said.

“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.

“We can’t trust our current politicians. Stand up – defend our country. Put Australia first.

“The best way to protect Australia’s future is to Vote 1, the United Australia Party,’’ Mr Palmer said.

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Federal Leader of the United Australia Party, Clive Palmer, has announced the appointment of business owner Russel Sewell as Shadow Treasurer.

Raised in Perth and with qualifications in software automation, Mr Sewell has worked internationally in Hong Kong and China.

He is an active participant in community and local issues, including illegal dumping, environmental management and urban planning.

When just 26 years of age, Mr Sewell was assigned to establish an overseas office and undertake business in the People’s Republic of China, signing a multi-million dollar contract the following year.

He is a strong believer in equality and fairness across genders and races as well as an equitable taxation system that will treat all Australians fairly.

“I want to see a better and more reliable banking system that will benefit customers and not just bank executives and shareholders,’’ Mr Sewell said.

“There should be greater emphasis on industry and investigation of processing our mineral and raw material wealth for the great benefit of all Australians,’’ he said.

Mr Sewell is a United Australia Party Senate candidate in WA.

Clive Palmer said hardworking Australians were looking for an effective alternative and that alternative was the United Australia Party.

“We will provide the strong leadership, the vision, the policies and the plan to make Australia great again,’’ he said.

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Federal Leader of the United Australia Party, Clive Palmer, has announced the appointment of long-term government executive and mental health advocate Patrick Hardwick as the Shadow Minister for Mental Health and Ageing.

Mr Hardwick has worked as a senior commonwealth public servant for over 30 years in the area of social welfare, employment, infrastructure, veteran affairs, health and immigration.

For nine years he was a mental health carer for his wife and has been one of Australia’s leading mental health carer advocates for the past 18 years.

He has a long history of managing the ministerial and parliamentary section of the Department of Home Affairs in WA.

Mr Hardwick is a Senate candidate in WA for the United Australia Party.

“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,’’ Mr Palmer said.

“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.

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Domestic violence advocate Cindy Duncan has been appointed the United Australia Party’s Shadow Minister for the Status of Women, Federal Leader Clive Palmer announced today.

The United Australia Party’s candidate for the New England electorate, Ms Duncan benefited first hand from the former Palmer United Party’s efforts in ensuring the government’s planned $25.5 million cuts to domestic violence funding did not go ahead.

Ms Duncan has broad life experience having spent time in the Army, and as a business owner, legal secretary and journalist.

Having endured a challenging 29-year marriage, she says she is very grateful for Mr Palmer’s stance on women’s rights.

“Australia is at a political and social precipice,’’ Ms Duncan said.

“As Australians, it’s time we recognized just how much our political leaders have neglected us and our nation’s resources.

“The United Australia Party has sound policies that I believe can correct the mistakes made by past governments to help all Australians, not the select few,’’ she said.

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Federal Leader of the United Australia Party, Clive Palmer, has criticised the role of left-wing lobby group GetUp in supporting Warringah independent Zali Steggall.

He said the partially foreign-funded group should not be interfering in the federal election.

“GetUp, which is conducting a major campaign in Warringah and other seats, has a history of receiving foreign donations.

“Influence from overseas interests should have no place in Australian politics,’’ Mr Palmer said.

“The United Australia Party’s Suellen Wrightson is the only true honest voice for the people of Warringah,’’ Mr Palmer said.

“Suellen is an outstanding candidate with an incredible work ethic and ability to connect with everyday Australians.

“She may not have a law degree like her Warringah opponents do, but she has excellent life experience and  a passion to make Australia great,’’ he said.

Ms Wrightson has a strong political background having campaigned as a Federal Senate candidate for the Palmer United Party in 2013 and serving as an elected member of the Cessnock City Council from 2012-2015 where she was a member of the Joint Regional Planning Panel for the Hunter region.

She is committed to helping everyday Australians and improving the lives of people in the community.

“There is no greater reward than being able to help someone get through life easier as a civic servant to my community,’’ she said.

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The United Australia Party has launched a high court application against the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) to stop the publishing of early theoretical election results in eastern states until the close of polls in all electoral divisions around Australia.

The court action has been instigated by United Australia Party Federal Leader Clive Palmer and United Australia Party federal candidates from Western Australia and the Northern Territory, who are most impacted by the current system.

“Because of the time differences across Australia, the current procedure improperly favours major parties,” Mr Palmer said.

“It creates an appearance that the AEC is biased by determining the two most likely candidates and can cause for misleading information to be delivered to voters while polls are still open across Australia,’’ he said.

“The United Australia Party believes the present method greatly infringes on voters’ free choice in an election and is not consistent with the maintenance of the constitutionally prescribed system of representative government.”

The United Australia Party is seeking to prohibit the AEC from making available to the public the identity of candidates it selects and not the voters as most likely to win a division until after 9pm (AEST), once the polls in all electoral divisions around Australia have closed.

“In 2013 the AEC was excluding the Palmer United Party vote in the seat of Fairfax in which I was standing,’’ Mr Palmer said.

“The early results didn’t have our vote in the calculations yet I went on  to win the seat with a vote of 50.3%, the biggest swing in Australian history,’’ Mr Palmer said.

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Federal Leader of the United Australia Party Clive Palmer says the Coalition’s 2019 budget had fallen well short for regular Australians crying out for true economic leadership.

“The budget did not address the real economic structural changes and sustainable incentives and rewards for all Australians,’’ Mr Palmer said.

“Structural changes such as abolishing provisional tax would put $70 billion back into the economy instantly.

“Downstream mineral processing facilities need to be built in Victoria and South Australia, utilising resources from Queensland and Western Australia.

“We need to introduce a zonal taxation system giving regional Australians a 20% tax break, which will encourage people to move to regional areas and reduce infrastructure pressure in our cities.

“We need 300km-an-hour fast trains,’’ Mr Palmer said.

“Tax-deductable home loans and lower power prices are also needed today.

“Under a United Australia Party government our structural changes to the economy will increase wages and living standards for all Australians.

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

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