Army vet wants to be Herbert LNP rep
A TOWNSVILLE army veteran has nominated to become the LNP candidate for the federal seat of Herbert, ending weeks of speculation about the party’s preselection options.
The Bulletin can reveal 30year- old Phillip Thompson has submitted the required paperwork for LNP preselection in Herbert ahead of the next federal election.
Mr Thompson, who was recently named the 2018 Queensland Young Australian of the Year, confirmed his nomination yesterday.
“After receiving strong support from the Townsville community I have decided to nominate for LNP preselection for the Federal seat of Herbert,” he said.
However, Mr Thompson said he was not able to give further details about his candidacy at this time.
“Unlike the Labor Party, LNP preselection is an entirely democratic process, which is an internal matter for members,” he said.
“It is extremely important that I respect the democratic process and preselectors, and as such I cannot provide any further comment on my candidacy until after preselection has occurred.”
It is understood Mr Thompson has also taken steps to renounce any potential claims to New Zealand citizenship he may have inherited through family.
An LNP source told the Bulletin the party was thoroughly vetting all candidates to ensure none would fall foul of dual citizenship rules.
Mr Thompson served in the Townsville- based 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment for six years.
He was wounded in action while serving in Afghanistan in 2009 when an improvised explosive device detonated a metre away from him.
In a statement on his professional Facebook page, Mr Thompson said he sustained severe physical and traumatic brain injuries in the blast.
“I spent the next several years putting all of my efforts into recovery and coming out the other side stronger than ever before,” he said.
“Today, I am passionate about helping others overcome adversity to become the best versions of themselves.”
Mr Thompson works for Selectability, a local organisation that focuses on mental wellbeing and suicide prevention. He and his wife Jenna recently welcomed their first child, a daughter named Astin.
“The core values of protecting the Australian way of life, freedom of speech, family and reward for effort are all characteristics I proudly carry with me in my day to day life,” he said on Facebook.
Last month former LNP Herbert MP Ewen Jones confirmed he had also submitted paperwork to run for preselection in his old seat.
But it is understood Mr Jones has since been cautioned for speaking publicly about his intention to run without prior approval from the party hierarchy.
LNP sources said the party’s preselection process had been delayed in Herbert due to the surprise announcement of a by- election in Longman on the Sunshine Coast.
The Herbert election is expected to be tight as Labor incumbent Cathy O’Toole won the seat by just 37 votes in 2016.