Palmer party lowers the bar

Clive Palmer’s United Australia Party has failed the electorate by standing dozens of candidates who have previously been before the courts or on the wrong side of the law. The revelations expose the lack of process in the UAP, which has rushed to endorse as many candidates as possible to maximise the potential for Mr Palmer to make mischief.

Where major parties avoid the potential for scandal at any costs, UAP leader Craig Kelly was quick to vouch for his team. This is despite the fact as many as 25 of the UAP’s 173 candidates have faced court in the past or face ongoing proceedings for offences such as unlawful assault, domestic violence, stalking, burglary, intentional destruction of property, trafficking of a controlled drug, medium-range drink-driving and custody of a knife in a public place. UAP spokesman Andrew Crook defended his party, claiming no candidate had been caught by the imprisonment provision of the Electoral Act or the Constitution, which prevents people convicted and under sentence, or subject to be sentenced, for an offence punishable by imprisonment of one year or more, from standing for office. This is not good enough.

Anyone thinking of voting for UAP candidates must consider their failure to select suitable candidates let alone participate in good faith in the running of the nation. The UAP will do nothing to restore public confidence in politics or our parliamentary representatives.