Former Premier of Queensland, Campbell Newman AO, has announced he will run for the Senate at the next federal election as state leader of an energised, fast-growing, Liberal Democrats.
"Australia needs real leadership. Strong, sensible, balanced leadership. Leadership that is brave enough to stand up to the powerful elites and bureaucrats who so casually sacrifice our freedoms," Mr Newman said.
Mr Newman made the announcement from his Brisbane home while under Covid lockdown saying he had decided to make a return to politics after hundreds of supporters disillusioned with the major parties had called and written urging him to "throw his hat back into the ring."
"Six years ago, I declared my political career over. But I simply cannot sit by and watch Australia being so poorly led, and this crisis being so poorly managed, by our major political parties. I love Australia and I love Queensland. I want to represent Queensland in the Senate and hold the major parties' feet to the fire, because right now they are all seriously letting us down," he said.
Mr Newman said he was making the change to the Liberal Democrats and is calling on all Australians who believe in traditional Aussie values to also make the change. "This is not a time to take a back seat. We are all going to have to make the change happen, together."
"Scott Morrison has, sadly, let us down with very illiberal big government over-reach. Anthony Albanese represents outdated socialism that will saddle our kids with huge debt and destroy our culture with woke nonsense and red tape. We need a return to real leadership and strong, sensible government," Mr Newman said.
"So, I say to all Australians who are fed up with the major political parties: there is now a sensible third option you can vote for. Join with us as we grow a new political force in Australia: a principled party that fights for the battlers, fights for small business, stands up for freedom and defends traditional Aussie values; the Liberal Democrats."
The former Queensland Premier spoke of the traditional liberal values that drove both his parents to senior Ministerial roles in two national governments. Campbell's father Kevin served under Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser in numerous portfolios, while his mother Jocelyn was a Senator and Minister for Social Services in the Howard government, universally admired, and once described as the most powerful woman in Australian politics.
"When Robert Menzies founded the Liberal Party, he said the time was right for a new political force in Australia - one which fought for the freedom of the individual and produced enlightened liberal policies. I say the time is right – again."
"THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING", SAYS LIBERAL DEMOCRATS
NATIONAL PRESIDENT
"Today's announcement that former Queensland Premier Campbell Newman will lead the LibDems Senate ticket in Queensland is the first step in a long-overdue shake-up of the Australian political landscape," said Liberal Democrats National President, Dr John Humphreys.
Dr Humphreys noted that Mr Newman was the only non-Labor politician to win government in Queensland in the past 23 years. He is also a former two-term Lord Mayor of Australia's largest local government authority, the Brisbane City Council.
"Despite relentless attacks from Labor, and little defence from the self-obsessed LNP, he remains extremely popular with a large proportion of the community who appreciate his "can do" attitude, the achievements of his years in government and his commitment to traditional Aussie values and real leadership," Dr Humphreys said.
"Make no mistake. This is just the beginning. The party that was founded 20 years ago and that has been consistently dedicated to the principles of small government and personal liberty, is about to do a whole lot more," he said. "Watch this space."
Dr Humphreys said the Liberal Democrats will finally bring a sensible, professional, third force back to Australian politics that will truly fight for freedom, and the rights of the individual.
"We will give the forgotten Australians a voice in the federal parliament, and we will make sure that voice is heard. We have to push back on both the rise of the woke-left authoritarianism of the Labor-Greens, and the weakness and meekness of the Liberal-Nationals," Dr Humphreys added. "The fight-back of the forgotten Australian begins today."
