PALMER United Party candidate for Ballarat Gerard Murphy – much like Clive Palmer himself – is in it to win it.
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The 59-year-old – who has been a technician, engineer, police officer, recruiter and trainer – officially launched his campaign last night at Mattelles Cafe and Bar.
He dismissed any suggestion he is simply making up the numbers, and said he was a decent chance to be the Member for Ballarat in the Federal Parliament come Saturday night.
“I think the seat (Ballarat) will change. It will be either (Liberal candidate) John Fitzgibbon or I. Our own internal polling has told us that,” Mr Murphy said.
“I’m about winning the seat.
“For 20 years I was in motor sport. I supplied suspension for Peter Brock’s Commodore and was workshop manager for Allan Grice when he won Bathurst in 1986. I didn’t get involved in that not to win. I love the campaigning. I’ve talked to anyone who will stop and listen. I haven’t had any negative comment.”
Mr Murphy said he was attracted to the Palmer United Party because he felt there was little difference between the major parties, and Clive Palmer offered economic common sense.
“Clive Palmer can be seen to be eccentric but you have to admit everything he says he was going to do, he has done,” Mr Murphy said.
“We need to be rewarding business for doing the right thing and putting cash back into the country. Business knows how to spend money more efficiently than government.”
He said he was disappointed with the debate about asylum seekers, declaring anyone had the right to seek asylum and that they should be processed in Australia in a timely manner provided they had the appropriate paperwork.