Beginning in 2021,Liberal National Party (LNP) senatorGerard Rennick began to receive criticism for his social media posts and his stance towards bothfederal and state government measures taken around theCOVID-19 pandemic in Australia,[13][14] including state border closures,[15] domestic travel restrictions and vaccine mandates.[16] Rennick's critical stance towards government policy continued throughout 2021–2022, and was labelled a "rebel"right-wing MP.[6][11] By early July 2023 Rennick narrowly lost preselection for the LNP's Senate ticket at thenext federal election (2025).[11][17]
For the2025 federal election, People First had a total of 25 candidates running across the country.[24] Party leader,Gerard Rennick, was the leadSenate candidate for Queensland, where the majority (16/25) of its candidates were running.[24] Rennick stated the party had over 2,000 members by May 2025, with an aim to have 5,000 by the next election.[25] Nationally, People First received 151,310 primary votes (0.95% of the national primary), failing to get any candidate elected.
Rennick is aright-wing[6][7] tofar-right former politician.[11] He describes himself as aprotectionist[26][27] and on economic policy said he favoured a "protectionist nationalist" form ofcapitalism.[5] Since the party's foundation, it has been characterised asconservative, particularly its economic policies,[4] andright-wing,[8] while holding a "staunchly right-wing political stance" with a "very committed base of supporters".[9]
Rennick, anaccountant by trade,[28] has claimed Australia's current rate of withholding tax provided an incentive for multinational firms to "ship their profits offshore", and called for lowering the company tax rate to 12%, more than half its current rate (2019).[29] He also cited Australia's system of corporate revenue collection was "why I really want to run" forParliament.[29] Rennick has also called for scrappingfranking credits, stating: "So, if you really wanted to reform the tax system... you should get rid of franking credits altogether and just have a lower, flatter company tax rate."[30]
Reinstatement of a public bank (similar to theCommonwealth Bank between 1911 and 1991) and reintroduce a Government Insurance Office.[37]
Establishing a "Infrastructure Bank", which would issuebonds to the Federal and State Governments for seven types ofInfrastructure –Dams, Baseload Power Stations (not renewables), Roads, Rail, Ports, Airports and Telecommunications.[38]
Abolish the "Multicultural Department".[a][36][39]
Prevent welfare benefits to foreign-born citizens for a ten-year period;[42] repeal the Mobility Arrangement for Talented Early Professionals Scheme (MATES)[43][44] withIndia.[42]
^There is no official "Multicultural Department" within the Australian Government. Responsibilities for matters relating to it are within theDepartment of Home Affairs.
^abMcKenna, Michael (29 April 2024)."Queensland senator Gerard Rennick launches legal action against LNP".The Australian. News Corp Australia.Senator Rennick, an accountant, is seen as a right-wing renegade in the party ranks who, notably, withdrew his vote for the Morrison government in 2021 in protest against Covid-19 vaccine mandates.
^"The Senate – Questions Without Notice: Take Note Of Answers – Cost Of Living Speech".aph.gov.au. Parliament of Australia. 13 November 2023 – via Hansard.I call myself a protectionist. The Liberal Party were the original party of that, before the free traders came in, and I like to remind my own party of that from time to time. We are here to protect the working-class people.
^Workman, Alice (1 February 2022)."Hey, Abbott".The Australian. News Corp Australia.
