Senator Gerard Rennick Forms New Political Party

Queensland senator Gerard Rennick has left the Liberal National Party (LNP) to establish the Gerard Rennick People First Party, aiming to prioritize 'bread and butter' issues in the lead-up to the next federal election due by May 2025. His departure follows a contentious preselection process where he was placed in an unwinnable position on the LNP's ticket, prompting his move to the crossbench. Rennick plans to advocate for policies such as increasing the tax-free threshold to $40,000, restructuring childcare support, and creating a public bank. He has criticized government overreach and expressed a desire to address economic concerns directly in the Senate. Since the 2022 election, he is the fourth Coalition MP to defect from the party, indicating potential fragmentation in right-wing support. The senator's past controversies include questioning vaccine efficacy during the COVID-19 pandemic, which he has attributed to his loss of party support.