Sold-out event for Bernardi

Controversial senator eyes State Election

SENATOR Cory Bernardi will address a sold-out crowd in Toowoomba today ahead of a probable bid to enter the State Election race.

More than 150 residents are expected to pack a room in the Toowoomba Library to see Mr Bernardi, who famously broke away from the Liberal Party to form the Australian Conservatives earlier this year.

After officially registering his party in Victoria, the 47-year-old looks poised to enter Queensland politics after his office confirmed they already had enough members to sign up in the Sunshine State.

The Senator’s adviser told The Chronicle the trip to Toowoomba was part of a whirlwind five-date tour of Queensland, with all events sold out.

“It’s really his first trip up to Queensland with the new party and so he wants to see his supporters and get to know the state,” he said.

“We’re not registered in Queensland, but we’ve got a strong membership base so we’ve already crossed that threshold.

“We didn’t want to be seen as south-east corner so we wanted to branch out to Toowoomba and south-west Queensland.

“(The events) will be exploring on how we move forward on the State Election.”

Senator Bernardi formally registered his party in Victoria yesterday, meaning the Australian Conservatives can now contest elections in two states (South Australia being the other).

Registrations in New South Wales, Tasmania, the Northern Territory and Queensland appear likely to follow according to The Australian, as the party looks to pick up dissatisfied Liberal and National voters across eastern and central Australia.

The entry of the Australian Conservatives into Queensland could spell further trouble for the LNP, which has already witnessed its supporter base erode thanks to Pauline Hanson and One Nation.

Both major parties have ruled out direct coalitions with One Nation to win government, but state leader Steve Dickson said he would end up picking the next premier when the election was finally called by Annastacia Palaszczuk.

“Whoever wins the majority of seats, you can be sure they will walk over broken glass to discuss matters with One Nation,” he said in March.

Labor still holds a 52-48 lead over the LNP on two-party preferred according to the latest Galaxy poll in May, with One Nation still polling a significant 17 per cent on primary preferences.