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John Bjelke-Petersen quits LNP to run for Palmer John Bjelke-Petersen quits LNP to run for Palmer
(4 months later)
The son of Queensland's longest serving premier Joh Bjelke-Petersen is making a bid for parliament under the banner of mining magnate Clive Palmer's party.The son of Queensland's longest serving premier Joh Bjelke-Petersen is making a bid for parliament under the banner of mining magnate Clive Palmer's party.
John Bjelke-Petersen has quit the Queensland Liberal National party (LNP) to run for the House of Representatives as a Palmer United party (PUP) candidate.John Bjelke-Petersen has quit the Queensland Liberal National party (LNP) to run for the House of Representatives as a Palmer United party (PUP) candidate.
He will run in the second safest coalition seat in Australia, Maranoa, which covers more than 700 square kilometres in south-west Queensland.He will run in the second safest coalition seat in Australia, Maranoa, which covers more than 700 square kilometres in south-west Queensland.
Palmer, the federal leader of PUP, announced Bjelke-Petersen's appointment in a statement on Friday morning.Palmer, the federal leader of PUP, announced Bjelke-Petersen's appointment in a statement on Friday morning.
"I am passionate about rural Queensland and am honoured to be selected as the PUP candidate for Maranoa," Bjelke-Petersen said."I am passionate about rural Queensland and am honoured to be selected as the PUP candidate for Maranoa," Bjelke-Petersen said.
"Regional Australia creates the majority of the wealth that drives this country yet we struggle to maintain services and infrastructure due to lack of will and funding by state and federal governments."Regional Australia creates the majority of the wealth that drives this country yet we struggle to maintain services and infrastructure due to lack of will and funding by state and federal governments.
"I support Clive Palmer's policies to reunite Australia and return the wealth back into the areas that create it.""I support Clive Palmer's policies to reunite Australia and return the wealth back into the areas that create it."
Bjelke-Petersen was raised on the family peanut farm in Kingaroy and operates the family's mixed tourism and farming business.Bjelke-Petersen was raised on the family peanut farm in Kingaroy and operates the family's mixed tourism and farming business.
"I want to be part of a team that will deliver back to rural and regional Queensland," he said."I want to be part of a team that will deliver back to rural and regional Queensland," he said.
"I look forward to working with the PUP to ensure that rural and regional areas get their fair share, that jobs are created and that our country begins to move forward.""I look forward to working with the PUP to ensure that rural and regional areas get their fair share, that jobs are created and that our country begins to move forward."
Nationals senator Barnaby Joyce was eyeing up the seat of Maranoa before he settled on New England in his run for the lower house.Nationals senator Barnaby Joyce was eyeing up the seat of Maranoa before he settled on New England in his run for the lower house.
The seat has been held since 1990 by LNP member Bruce Scott, who has a margin of about 14%.The seat has been held since 1990 by LNP member Bruce Scott, who has a margin of about 14%.
Palmer did not say in the statement if the party had approached Bjelke-Petersen but praised his new candidate's qualifications for parliament in the statement.Palmer did not say in the statement if the party had approached Bjelke-Petersen but praised his new candidate's qualifications for parliament in the statement.
"John Bjelke-Petersen is an outstanding candidate for the seat of Maranoa," he said."John Bjelke-Petersen is an outstanding candidate for the seat of Maranoa," he said.
"He possesses a strong personal knowledge of the rural sector and has vast political experience, making him the ideal voice for the people of south-west Queensland.""He possesses a strong personal knowledge of the rural sector and has vast political experience, making him the ideal voice for the people of south-west Queensland."
Joh Bjelke-Petersen was the Nationals premier of Queensland from 1968 until 1987.Joh Bjelke-Petersen was the Nationals premier of Queensland from 1968 until 1987.
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