"HELP is on the way" was the message from Palmer United Party federal leader and mining magnate Clive Palmer as he addressed PUP supporters and the media in Hobart yesterday, complete with a band.
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Taking the stage to the tune of Come on Aussie, Come on Mr Palmer announced North-West man Kevin Morgan as his candidate for premier.
"I am confident Mr Morgan will be the next premier of Tasmania," Mr Palmer said.
Mr Morgan is a business adviser and will run for the seat of Braddon.
"We are very confident of receiving strong support from Tasmanians at the state election and I know PUP has all other parties running scared," Mr Morgan said.
Mr Palmer said he would support GST funds distributed to states based on population.
This would mean Tasmania would lose more than $650 million in federal funding.
"It means certainly less for Tasmania at the moment but more under a Palmer government because we will be producing more wealth," Mr Palmer said.
PUP will stand candidates in every seat despite party registration not yet formalised with the Tasmanian Electoral Commission.
Mr Palmer said registration was still 10 days away, and would only be frozen if the Premier requested writs be issued by the Governor before then.
The Examiner understands former Integrity Commission chief executive Barbara Etter may run as a PUP candidate. Ms Etter was present at the announcement yesterday dressed in Palmer yellow attire. Mr Palmer said many prominent Tasmanians had put their hand up to run.
Mr Palmer said he is strongly connected to Tasmania and claims to have 200 cousins in the state. "I wish I could find them all," he said.
