United Australia Party candidates have been endorsed for the Victorian lower house seats of Holt, McEwen, Wannon, Lalor and Melbourne, Federal Leader Clive Palmer announced today
The candidates are automotive business owner Jatinder "Bobby" Singh (Holt), training consultant Chris Hayman (McEwen), Fonterra worker and stock trader Joshua Wallace (Wannon), business owners Paul Smith (Lalor) and Tony Pecora (Melbourne).
Bobby Singh is well known in Holt for his community work at the Keysborough Temple and organising other social activities. He has campaigned in previous elections with the UAP and as an independent.
He has run a successful automotive business for the past 10 years, providing jobs to the local community and has previously worked as a manager and supervisor in multiple industries.
"I pledge to work hard for the people of Australia, by bringing the manufacturing industries back to our shores.
"I want our children to have a better future with better living standards,'' he said.
Chris Hayman has a PhD from the University of NSW, an Honours Degree in Social Policy and History from the University of Sydney and a Bachelor of Social Work from the University of Melbourne.
His knowledge of McEwen electorate began in the 1990s in Hurstbridge and the wider northern area working in aged care social work. Since 2008, with his wife, he has operated a design consultancy business with a focus on Sunbury and the Macedon Ranges.
His career took him from social work with homeless, vulnerable and frail aged people to research, policy work and consultancy into operating a private training company. Community focussed, he has worked as a casual TAFE trainer teaching many residents of McEwen in both building/design related business management and in social services courses at GOTAFE Seymour, Melbourne Polytechnic at Greensborough/Epping and Kangan Broadmeadows.
Chris has continued advocacy work for customers of NDIS and My Aged Care and is very concerned about problems in support for disabled older children and youth. He has a keen focus and knowledge about building and infrastructure issues especially training, apprenticeship, retraining and job creation.
Coming from a large family of 10, Joshua Wallace has lived in the Wannon region for most of his life, specifically the Cobden area.
Josh grew up on a farm and worked on several dairy farms in the local area starting at the age of 14. This, in combination with working for several large dairy companies over the past seven years has given him a strong understanding of the importance of the dairy industry in Wannon.
An avid North Melbourne fan, he works dairy co-operative Fonterra as well as a stock trader and entrepreneur.
Paul Smith works in the warehousing and logistics industry and is also a small business owner. He has lived in the electorate of Lalor for the past 13 years, seeing it grow at one of the fastest rates in the country.
After spending the past 30 years working in the music industry Paul set up and runs an online music store and has started a record label to showcase young local musicians.
He has helped organise events showcasing local musicians and DJs. In his musical career, Paul toured Australia with bands, had international recording deals and has worked with a Melbourne based youth music program which showcases young artists and gives them exposure to some of Australia's largest recording companies.
In 2008, Tony Pecora and a business partner founded The Green Power Company, responsible for installing thousands of solar power systems in Australia and the South Pacific. In 2016, he opened Solar Fiji.
"I am entering politics, specifically with the United Australia Party, because I have a deep belief that freedom, liberty and strength are the defining principles on which all great civilizations are built.
"We must be optimistic about the future, but also cautious of the impediments that can stifle our freedoms, growth and creativity.
"Melbourne is a great multi-cultural city, and I hope that Melbourne will always be fair, free and strong,'' he said.
