United Australia Will Reunite the Nation

Media Release

Mr Clive Palmer has today announced the formation of a new federal political party to reunite the nation, restore competency to government and provide a plan for jobs growth to enable Australia’s economy to move forward.

Mr Palmer has relaunched the United Australia Party (UAP) with plans to field candidates in all House of Representative seats and a Senate team in each state and territory at the September 14 federal election.

Mr Palmer will stand as a candidate for the party in a Queensland lower house seat at the September poll.

The leading businessman said he had decided to enter the political ring as a result of the poor policy decisions of the Gillard government and lack of confidence in the federal Opposition.

“Julia Gillard and the Labor government are on the nose but Australians are also clearly disillusioned with both the major political parties,” he said.

“By reforming the United Australia Party we are offering a viable alternative. The United Australia Party stands for bringing people together.

“Politics today is based on politicians blaming and fighting each other; there is no leadership and no plan to grow the economy. United Australia Party will represent all.

“Australia also needs the right policies in place to restore jobs growth. We have had people with little expertise running the country and operating a trillion dollar business. We are facing a $60 billion deficit and drastic action is needed.”

Mr Palmer said the UAP stood for honesty in government and would ensure paid political lobbyists played no part in the business of government.

“Politicians are being compromised by the reliance on lobbyists and their client’s cheque books,” he said.

“Julia Gillard, Tony Abbott and Queensland Premier Campbell Newman have allowed lobbyists to have too much influence in the political process and this is one of the major factors in my decision last year to resign my membership of the LNP,” he said.

Mr Palmer said the UAP would be not only repealing the Carbon Tax but making it retrospective.

“The Gillard government has handicapped Australian industry by forcing Australian businesses to pay $23 per tonne of carbon under its Carbon Tax while European businesses pay only $3.23,” he said.

“This has proven to be a disaster that has cost investment and jobs. The UAP vows to refund enterprises that have been forced to pay this tax.

“The Carbon Tax was imposed by a government that does not understand business and is incompetent. They have continually been in crisis and everything they touch turns to disaster.”

Mr Palmer said UAP election candidates and policy announcements would be rolled out in the coming weeks.