CLIVE Palmer has vowed his party will extend its influence beyond Canberra’s Parliament House.
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They won’t, however, be in a position to stand a single candidate at the NSW Election next March.
A party spokeswoman has confirmed Palmer United had failed to apply for a permit to stand candidates in NSW prior to Electoral Commission deadlines.
The oversight means Palmer United cannot contest any of the 93 seats up-for-grabs at the March 28 poll – including a newlook electorate of Goulburn.
“The Palmer United Party is not registered in New South Wales and cannot contest next year’s state election,” a spokeswoman told the Post last week.
“The party is registered with the Australian Electoral Commission to stand candidates at federal elections, but the party missed the deadline to register with the NSW Electoral Commission.”
Jason Cornelius stood for the Palmer United Party for the seat of Hume at last year’s federal poll.
He surprised some by latching onto more than 4000 primary votes – around four-and-a-half per cent of the voting electorate.
He’s disappointed Palmer United is not in a position to contest Goulburn at a state level, admitting he was strongly considering nominating for preselection.
Mr Cornelius hasn’t ruled out standing, however, indicating he may run as an independent in either Goulburn, Hawkesbury or Londonderry.
“Myself and my partner are considering running as independents,” he said.
“I would have followed party protocol to stand for Palmer United, like everyone else.
“All the candidates that stood federally, we still see ourselves as part of the party. We’re disappointed about not being registered, but that’s the way it is.”
The mishap won’t dent the party’s growing influence, Mr Cornelius says.
Despite forming less than two years’ ago, the Palmer United Party already has a seat in the House of Representatives and three elected senators.
Contrary to the public stoush between Senator Jacqui Lambie and leader Clive Palmer, Mr Cornelius believes the party is performing admirably.
“I think they’re doing quite well,” he said.
“Every party has its problems.
We’ve made promises and Clive’s stuck to them. He promised to stand up for the little people, the low income earners, and he has.”
At present, five candidates have confirmed they’ll stand for the seat of Goulburn. Taking on incumbent Pru Goward are Labor’s Ursula Stephens, Green Iain Fyfe, Christian Democrat Adrian Van Der Byl and the Outdoor Recreation Party’s Wal Ashton.