Craig Kelly Continues his Political Resurgence With Another Party Move
Craig Kelly, known for his affiliations with Liberals, United Australia, One Nation, and as an independent, has now joined the Libertarians.
Having previously worked closely with One Nation leader Pauline Hanson, there was speculation that he would run on their ticket for the upcoming federal election. However, former politician Craig Kelly has announced that he will be running for the Senate with the Libertarian Party.
On 2GB, where he made his announcement, Kelly expressed respect for Pauline Hanson and her contributions to Australian politics but stated his decision to work with the Libertarian Party moving forward.
He clarified that his association with One Nation was on a contract basis for a brief period and denied any falling-out, highlighting his alignment with the Libertarian Party due to their belief in smaller government and support for entrepreneurial endeavors.
Expressing concerns about recent legislative actions in the Senate, Kelly emphasized the need for better governance in the country and his commitment to returning to federal parliament.
Specifically, he raised issues regarding changes in online access that he believes grant excessive power to the eSafety Commissioner.
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He raised questions about potential requirements for a digital ID to access online accounts and criticized the Liberal Party for their alignment with Labor on such matters.
‘Future PM’ Prediction Didn’t Come to Pass
Craig Kelly was initially elected as the Liberal MP for the NSW seat of Hughes in 2010.
His journey saw him defect to become an independent in 2021, later joining the United Australia Party (UAP) led by Clive Palmer. Despite this, he was unsuccessful in the 2022 federal election under the UAP banner.
In 2023, he once again ran independently in the NSW election but did not win. Subsequently, he took on the role of federal campaign director for One Nation before transitioning to the Libertarian Party.
Despite his frequent party changes, Kelly expressed admiration for Pauline Hanson and credited her for her contributions to the country.
He maintained that his values remained consistent and criticized his former parties for deviating from their principles.
Emphasizing the Libertarian Party’s focus on limited government intervention and individual freedoms, he highlighted his disillusionment with the Liberal Party, which he left in 2021 due to disagreements over COVID-19 policies.
In the same year, he faced controversy for sending unsolicited text messages to Australian voters but was not prosecuted due to legal exemptions for political communications.
