One of Australia’s more prominent “freedom” activists has severed ties with the United Australia Party three weeks after he was formally endorsed as a candidate.
Morgan Jonas has said he will not stand alongside rogue ex-Liberal turned UAP leader Craig Kelly and 149 other lower house candidates at the upcoming federal election.
The combat sports equipment salesman and alt-right “MCJ Report” blogger on Saturday announced to his 94,145 Facebook followers that his plans had changed.
“Yesterday I filed my written resignation with the UAP thus withdrawing my nomination,” Mr Jonas wrote.
“This was not a decision I made lightly, but after much thought and discussion with myxjmtzyw core team … I am confident it’s the right thing to do.”
Mr Jonas first announced he would run for the UAP in the Victorian electorate of Flinders during a speech at an anti-vaccine mandate protest in Melbourne in December.
His quitting the UAP may well signal the end of an alliance between the party and anti-lockdown activist organisation Reignite Democracy Australia (RDA).
Mr Jonas in May last year announced in a Facebook video that RDA – which was founded by his partner Monica Smit – would become a political party.
In October, RDA joined forces with the UAP to boost the smaller organisation’s political prospects.
“With the lobbying capabilities of the RDA family and the support and expertise of Craig Kelly and Clive Palmer, I believe our vision of a strong, free and independent Australia is inevitable,” Ms Smit said in a statement at the time.
The Australian Electoral Commission on February 9 refused RDA’s bid to register as a political party because its application didn’t include a list of the names of the requisite 1500 members.
In his Facebook post on Saturday, Mr Jonas thanked his supporters and wished Mr Kelly and the party “the best of luck”.
But mining magnate turned UAP senate hopeful and “shadow treasurer” Clive Palmer appeared not to take the news amicably.
In a post on the party’s official Facebook page, the controversial billionaire accused Mr Jonas of joining the party “to promote his own self-interests”.
“We note he has never been elected to parliament and is seeking to disrupt the political campaign of Craig Kelly to be the next prime minster,’’ Mr Palmer said.
Mr Kelly said “several good people” had put their hands up previously to run in Flinders and the party would “have no trouble finding another excellent candidate”.
“I consider Morgan a good friend. I still consider him a friend. It’s disappointing that he’s decided to pursue other endeavours and I wish him all the best with those endeavours,” he told NCA NewsWire.
Mr Kelly stopped short of criticising Mr Palmer’s Facebook post.
“Naturally, he was disappointed having invested a fair bit of time and money in all the candidates so far,” he said.
“Clive makes his comments. I make my own comments.”
Mr Jonas said he would appear in a live video on his Facebook page at 8pm on Monday to explain why he quit the UAP.
He said he would also share the news of “our exciting plan moving forward”.
“I would like to thank my loyal supporters who have been there through thick and thin. We got this,” he wrote.
The UAP, led by Mr Kelly with the financial backing of Mr Palmer, is yet to announce a replacement for Mr Jonas in the seat of Flinders.
The party is using a mammoth advertising campaign to buoy its message of “freedom” in the hopes of appealing to disaffected voters who are frustrated with Labor and the Coalition.
Mr Palmer and Mr Jonas have been contacted for comment.
