Aidan McLindon
Encyclopedia
Aidan Patrick McLindon (born 26 February 1980) is an Australian politician. He was first elected for the seat of Beaudesert
to the Queensland State Parliament
for the Liberal National Party of Queensland at the 2009 Queensland Election
. He resigned from that party to become an Independent
in May 2010 and in June 2010 he established The Queensland Party
, which he left and is now the only state sitting member of Katter's Australian Party
in the Northern Territory
, and was a bar attendant and musician before entering politics. He attended school at Springwood State High School
where he was elected a prefect.
McLindon gained some publicity in the media for his musical interests, especially his involvement in the alternative rock band killTV. This attracted some notoriety as a result of their security breach at a televised Big Brother event in 2005, in protest against the reality program's funding from government.
His military service included roles as an infantry soldier and driver 1997–2002 in the Australian Army
.
McLindon cites an early interest in politics at the age of 15 from work experience at Queensland Parliament House in 1995. He later went on to complete a degree in Government and Politics, majoring in Public Policy, at Griffith University
. McLindon acknowledged a number of academics and political scientists from the university in his inaugural speech to Queensland Parliament.
to run for a state seat as Australia's youngest politically endorsed candidate at the age of 17 years old and completed a personal door to door campaign to 17,500 homes.
McLindon previously served as a Logan City councillor 2004–2009, including as Chair of the Environment and Sustainability portfolio. In 2009 he was preselected to succeed Kev Lingard
as the Liberal National Party candidate for Beaudesert
.
The Beaudesert campaign of 2009 saw several high profile identities and McLindon successfully defended the seat for the LNP against former One Nation leader Pauline Hanson
who contested the seat as an independent.
In early 2010, McLindon attracted significant media attention by challenging Deputy Leader of the Liberal National Party of Queensland (LNP), Lawrence Springborg
, for his position in the party at a parliamentary meeting of the LNP.
In May 2010, McLindon and Burnett
MP Rob Messenger, who had seconded McLindon's nomination as deputy leader, resigned from the LNP to sit as Independents
, claiming that the party had, like the Labor Party, become victim to "flawed political process".
In June 2010, McLindon announced the formation of a new party, The Queensland Party
, based on "moderate" ideals and the right to dissent from party policy. McLindon stated that the party would run in all Queensland seats at the next state election
, with the exception of the five seats held by Independent
MPs.
McLindon has advocated the removal of poker machines from towns and cities around Queensland to be moved into a new "AusVegas" in the Cairns region. He has also been a vocal advocate for the restoration of the Upper House in Queensland.
In August 2011 McLindon wanted to merge the Queensland Party with Bob Katter's Australian Party
but it did not take place because the party's constitution demanded any merger would have to be sanctioned by a vote of at least 75 per cent of members at a special meeting.
Electoral district of Beaudesert
-External links:*...
to the Queensland State Parliament
Queensland Legislative Assembly
The Queensland Legislative Assembly is the unicameral chamber of the Parliament of Queensland. Elections are held approximately once every three years. Voting is by the Optional Preferential Voting form of the Alternative Vote system...
for the Liberal National Party of Queensland at the 2009 Queensland Election
Queensland state election, 2009
The Queensland state election was held to elect members to the unicameral Parliament of Queensland on 21 March 2009. The election saw the incumbent Labor government led by Premier Anna Bligh defeat the Liberal National Party of Queensland led by Opposition Leader Lawrence Springborg, and gain a...
. He resigned from that party to become an Independent
Independent (politician)
In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do...
in May 2010 and in June 2010 he established The Queensland Party
The Queensland Party
The Queensland Party is a political party based in Queensland, Australia. It is not affiliated with the North Queensland Party. The Queensland Party had one member in the Queensland Legislative Assembly and claims to be "neither left nor right with a focus on providing a balanced, moderate voice"...
, which he left and is now the only state sitting member of Katter's Australian Party
Katter's Australian Party
Katter's Australian Party is a registered political party in Australia. It was formed by the independent Federal Member of Parliament Bob Katter with a registration application lodged to the Australian Electoral Commission on 3 June 2011...
Early life
McLindon was born in DarwinDarwin, Northern Territory
Darwin is the capital city of the Northern Territory, Australia. Situated on the Timor Sea, Darwin has a population of 127,500, making it by far the largest and most populated city in the sparsely populated Northern Territory, but the least populous of all Australia's capital cities...
in the Northern Territory
Northern Territory
The Northern Territory is a federal territory of Australia, occupying much of the centre of the mainland continent, as well as the central northern regions...
, and was a bar attendant and musician before entering politics. He attended school at Springwood State High School
Springwood State High School
Springwood State High School is a Queensland state school located in the Logan City suburb of Springwood. The school opened in 1977 to Grade 8 students with its official opening in 1978. Springwood State High School is situated on of bushland and includes a lagoon which is used by senior Biology...
where he was elected a prefect.
McLindon gained some publicity in the media for his musical interests, especially his involvement in the alternative rock band killTV. This attracted some notoriety as a result of their security breach at a televised Big Brother event in 2005, in protest against the reality program's funding from government.
His military service included roles as an infantry soldier and driver 1997–2002 in the Australian Army
Australian Army
The Australian Army is Australia's military land force. It is part of the Australian Defence Force along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. While the Chief of Defence commands the Australian Defence Force , the Army is commanded by the Chief of Army...
.
McLindon cites an early interest in politics at the age of 15 from work experience at Queensland Parliament House in 1995. He later went on to complete a degree in Government and Politics, majoring in Public Policy, at Griffith University
Griffith University
Griffith University is a public, coeducational, research university located in the southeastern region of the Australian state of Queensland. The university has five satellite campuses located in the Gold Coast, Logan City and in the Brisbane suburbs of Mount Gravatt, Nathan and South Bank. Current...
. McLindon acknowledged a number of academics and political scientists from the university in his inaugural speech to Queensland Parliament.
Political career
In 1998 McLindon was preselected by the Liberal Party of AustraliaLiberal Party of Australia
The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office...
to run for a state seat as Australia's youngest politically endorsed candidate at the age of 17 years old and completed a personal door to door campaign to 17,500 homes.
McLindon previously served as a Logan City councillor 2004–2009, including as Chair of the Environment and Sustainability portfolio. In 2009 he was preselected to succeed Kev Lingard
Kev Lingard
Kevin Rowson "Kev" Lingard is an Australian politician. He was a National member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly from 1983 to 2009....
as the Liberal National Party candidate for Beaudesert
Electoral district of Beaudesert
-External links:*...
.
The Beaudesert campaign of 2009 saw several high profile identities and McLindon successfully defended the seat for the LNP against former One Nation leader Pauline Hanson
Pauline Hanson
Pauline Lee Hanson is an Australian politician and former leader of Pauline Hanson's One Nation, a political party with a populist and anti-multiculturalism platform...
who contested the seat as an independent.
In early 2010, McLindon attracted significant media attention by challenging Deputy Leader of the Liberal National Party of Queensland (LNP), Lawrence Springborg
Lawrence Springborg
Lawrence James Springborg is an Australian politician and became Deputy Leader of the Opposition in Queensland since 2 April 2009. He was deputy leader of the new Liberal National Party...
, for his position in the party at a parliamentary meeting of the LNP.
In May 2010, McLindon and Burnett
Electoral district of Burnett
The district of Burnett is an electoral division of the Queensland Legislative Assembly in central Queensland, Australia.It covers most of the coastal region south of Gladstone, as well as coastal and inland regions around Bundaberg. Towns within its boundaries include Miriam Vale, Agnes Water,...
MP Rob Messenger, who had seconded McLindon's nomination as deputy leader, resigned from the LNP to sit as Independents
Independent (politician)
In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do...
, claiming that the party had, like the Labor Party, become victim to "flawed political process".
In June 2010, McLindon announced the formation of a new party, The Queensland Party
The Queensland Party
The Queensland Party is a political party based in Queensland, Australia. It is not affiliated with the North Queensland Party. The Queensland Party had one member in the Queensland Legislative Assembly and claims to be "neither left nor right with a focus on providing a balanced, moderate voice"...
, based on "moderate" ideals and the right to dissent from party policy. McLindon stated that the party would run in all Queensland seats at the next state election
Next Queensland state election
The 2012 Queensland state election will elect all 89 members of the Legislative Assembly. Queensland elections must be held on a Saturday, the last possible date being calculated by reference to the previous election writs, and therefore slightly longer than 3 years after the previous election...
, with the exception of the five seats held by Independent
Independent (politician)
In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do...
MPs.
McLindon has advocated the removal of poker machines from towns and cities around Queensland to be moved into a new "AusVegas" in the Cairns region. He has also been a vocal advocate for the restoration of the Upper House in Queensland.
In August 2011 McLindon wanted to merge the Queensland Party with Bob Katter's Australian Party
Katter's Australian Party
Katter's Australian Party is a registered political party in Australia. It was formed by the independent Federal Member of Parliament Bob Katter with a registration application lodged to the Australian Electoral Commission on 3 June 2011...
but it did not take place because the party's constitution demanded any merger would have to be sanctioned by a vote of at least 75 per cent of members at a special meeting.