One Nation has registered websites for the grandson of Queensland’s longest-serving premier, Joh Bjelke-Petersen, further fuelling speculation the political scion is being pursued to run as a candidate for Pauline Hanson’s party.
The emergence of the domain registrations comes weeks after Sam Bjelke-Petersen received a glowing endorsement at a public event honouring his grandfather from mining billionaire Gina Rinehart, One Nation’s biggest donor and a prominent party backer.
Bjelke-Petersen played down the speculation when contacted by this masthead, revealing the websites sambjelkepetersen.com and sambjelkepetersen.net had been registered by One Nation without his knowledge.
“As many Australians are, I am concerned where the country is heading. I think everyone with a stake in Australia should be,” he told this masthead in a statement on Wednesday.
“Right now, I am enjoying the private sector. However, I think in life, there comes a time to serve, which can be done in many ways, and give back. That time may come in the future.”
The domains were registered by One Nation Queensland Division Inc in late November and were then updated on August 30.
“Regarding the domain,” Bjelke-Petersen said. “I was unaware of its purchase, but am sure it’s common practice by parties to ‘domain squat’ various domains/names.”
One Nation did not respond to requests for comment.
Rinehart told this masthead Bjelke-Petersen is “just the sort of gentleman we need in federal parliament”, in a statement mirroring the billionaire’s comments reported after her public endorsement.
“I have known Sam Bjelke-Petersen since he was a young person, and I have remained close to his fine family,” she said.
“Sam is a gentleman of admirable and unquestionable character, loads of common sense, a staunch patriot with fine principles, and together with his agricultural and successful business background, would be an outstanding member of parliament should he choose to run.”
Bjelke-Petersen works in the private sector in Brisbane but was raised in Kingaroy, which falls within the federal seat of Maranoa.
The southern outback rural electorate is held on a more than 20 per cent margin by former Nationals leader David Littleproud, who party insiders say will recontest the next federal election.
A source with knowledge of internal conservative political machinations, speaking anonymously to share their views, freely described Bjelke-Petersen as a smart operator who would be a strong candidate, but there were doubts over where in Queensland he would be ideally suited to run.
It was also suggested that Bjelke-Petersen may wait to see if One Nation’s resurgence would be sustained before hitching his famous name to a potential passing phase.
Joh Bjelke-Petersen was a controversial figure in conservative politics who led Queensland for 19 years. His failed bid to become prime minister in the late ’80s has been likened to Hanson’s current ascendant populist style of politics.
His son, John – Sam’s father – ran for the seat of Maranoa in the 2013 federal election for the then-Palmer United Party.
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James Hall is the News Director at the Brisbane Times. He is the former Queensland correspondent at The Australian Financial Review and has reported for a range of mastheads across the country, specialising on political and finance reporting.Connect via X or email.From our partners
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