Newly appointed candidate for Cowper for the United Australia Party Alexander Stewart has had a colourful career so far.
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The 68-year-old engineer has worked in the past for six politicians.
He has also been a member of three other political parties besides the United Australia Party - the Liberal Party, Christian Democratic Party and One Nation.
Despite this Mr Stewart said he is committed to the United Australia Party as they offer something different.
"Australia is in a mess, democracy is in crisis and both sides of politics have failed over many years," he said.
"The party machines preselect candidates on compliance rather than competence.
"When the party gets in power you have people who are not competent as ministers.
"I served for 23 years in the public service and some ministers don't have a clue, the bureaucracy runs rings around them."
Mr Stewart said his greatest achievements were reducing the road toll on the Newell Highway between 1990-97 after increasing the speed limit and hiring the first two Aboriginal road safety officers in the country when he worked as a senior manager for the NSW Roads and Traffic Authority.
Another achievement he identified was his involvement in 91 octane for unleaded petrol as an air pollution engineer for the Environmental Pollution Authority.
The United Australia Party, previous known as the Palmer United Party, controlled the balance of power in the Senate after the 2013 Federal Election.
But after a series of defections and claims of bullying within the party in 2014 and 2015, the party was deregistered the next year.
Mr Stewart praised leader of the United Australia Party mining magnate Clive Palmer.
Clive is speaking common sense, common sense in economics, common sense in regards to family issues.
- Alexander Stewart
"He is prepared to be outspoken and that is what we need in our democracy.
Mr Stewart said the party will be more sustainable this time round.
"Lessons have been learnt and it has of course a good constitution..these things were not set up enough 6 years ago."
Mr Stewart said he has been receiving a lot of "good vibes" while campaigning.
"On the ground there is a lot of discontent about both sides of politics, state and federal and a yearning for some type of change."
He said his priorities if elected would be addressing youth unemployment which is the second highest in the country in the Coffs/Clarence area, justice for the dairy industry and better environmental outcomes which he believes can be achieved while maintaining logging.
Mr Stewart lives at Stuarts Point with his wife Edwina.
They moved there in August but previously have lived in Red Hill when Mr Stewart worked in Grafton for the Roads and Traffic Authority.
He has four children aged 35-40.
His youngest son Michael died in January 2018 aged 33 after a long battle with cancer.
"It was a great sorrow.
"Twice we defeated the cancer but it came back."
At 68 Mr Stewart was ready to retire when Mr Palmer tapped him on the shoulder for the seat.
"I've had a fascinating life and we thought we would just live a quiet life at Stuarts Point.
"But I'm in good health and I just want to contribute."