Federal election 2022: criminal pasts of Clive Palmer’s hopefuls

A large number of candidates standing for Clive Palmer’s United Australia Party at Saturday’s election have faced criminal proceedings in the nation’s courts.

More than 20 of Clive Palmer’s 173 candidates have faced court in the past, or face ongoing matters, raising questions about the internal vetting process used to select them. Picture: Brendan Radke

A large number of candidates standing for Clive Palmer’s United Australia Party at Saturday’s election have faced criminal proceedings in the nation’s courts.

More than 20 of the UAP’s 173 candidates have faced court in the past, or face ongoing matters, raising questions about the internal vetting process used to select them.

The most serious cases involve nine endorsed UAP candidates. Charges faced by some have included 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. At least three endorsed candidates are currently before the courts, two for criminal charges and one for a police apprehended violence order (AVO) application.

Although the UAP’s prospects of winning any seats are considered slim, its candidates could figure significantly in helping to determine the election result as they did in 2019 when the bulk of the party’s preference votes went to the Coalition, and especially aided the LNP in Queensland.

The UAP’s parliamentary leader, ex-Liberal MP Craig Kelly, seeking re-election in his NSW seat of Hughes, has been promoted by his party as “our next prime minister” and he told Sky News on Monday it was “theoretically possible”.

Mr Kelly told The Australian the UAP had conducted police checks, social media checks and formal interviews to choose candidates.

“If I got a chance to get around and meet all these people, I’m sure you could find the odd exception amongst some, but these are at least some of the highest-calibre people I’ve met in my life,” he said. “We’ve got some really outstanding people.”

 

The UAP is fielding candidates for all 151 House of Representatives seats, and has 22 Senate candidates.

The major Liberal/National and Labor parties use rigorous vetting processes to select candidates, and to weed out others who might be an embarrassment or bring the parties into disrepute.

The majors require aspiring candidates to complete detailed questionnaires that request details about citizenship, criminal history, undischarged bankruptcy and whether or not they hold any office of profit under the Crown, to satisfy eligibility provisions under section 44 of the Constitution.

They also require information about any legal action taken by or against them, any traffic violations, any history of non-eligibility to serve as a company director, and any possible personal impropriety. Candidate hopefuls with issues of concern are usually discouraged, or told they are unlikely to be selected.

Among the UAP’s candidates with serious past convictions is Allan McLeod, standing for the Northern Territory lower house seat of Lingiari.

Mr McLeod got through the UAP candidate vetting process despite two separate domestic and family violence orders issued against him in February and March 2019. He also has two convictions for medium-range drink-driving in 2017 and 2019, and for driving without a licence.

A spokesman for Mr Palmer and the UAP, Andrew Crook, told The Australian the party had a strong vetting process but he was not aware of Mr McLeod’s convictions. Mr Crook said he was surprised the UAP’s Northern Territory director had “not picked that up”.

But he said Mr McLeod and all other UAP candidates had a right to stand under the Electoral Act and the Constitution, which prevents people standing who are convicted and under sentence, or subject to be sentenced, for an offence punishable by imprisonment of one year or more.

Mr Crook said many of the charges against UAP candidates had been “dropped or settled”, and any charges currently before the courts “must be viewed with a presumption of innocence”.

Adam Jannis, UAP candidate for the western NSW seat of Calare, was convicted in November 2014 of stalking or intimidating with intent to cause fear or mental harm against another person. Mr Jannis was sentenced to a 12-month good behaviour bond and issued with an AVO.

According to the police facts sheet from his case, Mr Jannis told the victim via Facebook message on November 14, 2014: “I hope you get raped and murdered you f..kin whore. you ruined me.” He later told police he had an “infatuation” with the victim.

Mr Jannis told The Australian: “I was young at the time. I made a comment to somebody. They didn’t appreciate the comment. That’s basically all that happened. It’s something you live to regret but you learn from and become a better person because of that.”

Mr Crook said Mr Jannis’s conviction was “well past” and he was sure a police check had cleared him.

Ralph Babet, the UAP’s No.1 Senate candidate in Victoria, has faced three rounds of criminal proceedings. A criminal damage charge against Mr Babet was discharged with no conviction in March 2017, with a magistrate ordering a diversion program in which the accused accepts responsibility while not pleading guilty.

Mr Babet pleaded not guilty to a February 2015 charge of unlawful assault and the charge was later withdrawn. He pleaded guilty to a charge of unlawful assault in August 2018, with a magistrate dismissing the charge when Mr Babet complied with a bond undertaking.

The Australian sought comment from Mr Babet. UAP spokesman Mr Crook said Mr Babet had a very successful real estate business and his police check was “absolutely clear”.

Mr Babet’s younger brother, Matt Babet, standing in the Victorian seat of Bruce, pleaded guilty in August last year to charges of unlawful assault and intentionally destroying property. A magistrate ordered him to pay $1279 compensation and fined him $1500 without conviction.

Mr Babet told The Australian: “That’s a false allegation, and basically, it’s got nothing to do with my political history … so I don’t want to make any comment on that.”

Mr Crook said Mr Babet’s police check was “as clear as day” and he was a “fine human” in business with his brother.

Eijah Suares, the UAP candidate in the Victorian seat of Bendigo, was charged with burglary in August 2016 and later placed on a court-ordered diversion program. He told The Australian the matter was “a misunderstanding” when he and others were “messing around” and entered their workplace at night.

Mr Crook, who sits on the UAP’s overall selection committee with Mr Palmer, said he interviewed Mr Suares and his police check was clear. “He’s a qualified civil engineer so I wouldn’t be worried about him at all,” he said.

Russell Jackson, UAP candidate for Kingston in South Australia, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to six months’ jail, suspended, in September 2016 for controlled drug offences involving marijuana. He told The Australian: “It was over a medical issue and a work injury.”

Of three matters pending, Blaxland NSW candidate Elvis Sinosic is listed for a hearing next month charged with custody of a knife in a public place and not complying with a police Covid-19 direction. Farrer NSW candidate Julie Ramos faces a hearing in September with police applying for an AVO related to a child. Ingram Spencer, standing for Higgins in Victoria, is in custody and due to return to court on Wednesday charged with 13 offences including using a carriage service to menace. He has not yet entered a plea.

Mr Kelly said he was a member of the Sydney vetting committee for NSW candidates, but was not aware of matters involving Mr Sinosic, Ms Ramos or Mr Jannis.

He said he thought Mr Palmer and Mr Crook were involved in final choices: “To be honest, I’m not 100 per cent sure.”