April 19, 2017
The Palmer United Party – led by controversial businessman Clive Palmer – has applied to the Australian Electoral Commission to be deregistered as a Federal political party.
In a media release on Wednesday, Mr Palmer confirmed he had also formally retired from politics.
At its peak, PUP had party founder Mr Palmer in the House of Representatives in Canberra plus three Federal senators, two Queensland MPs and three Northern Territory MPs.
However, there were several public disputes within party ranks.
Former PUP Deputy Leader Senator Jacquie Lambie quit in 2014 to become an Independent.
She was re-elected to the Senate at the 2016 election.
The party’s high profile recruit, former rugby league star Glenn Lazarus, was elected to the Senate in 2013. He quit the party in 2015 to become an Independent. He was unsuccessful at the 2016 poll.
Mr Palmer was elected by the narrowest of margins to represent the seat of Fairfax in 2013; he did not re-stand in 2016.
The party lost its last remaining Federal representative when Senator Dio Wang failed to be returned at the 2016 Senate election.
“I would like to thank the members and thousands of Australians in every State of the Commonwealth who have supported the party and its candidates during the last four years,” Mr Palmer said on Wednesday.
The Palmer United Party applied for deregistration in Queensland in 2016.
