James BlundellAustralian country music star James Blundell is the latest high profile name to sign on for Queensland politician Bob Katter's Australia Party, announcing yesterday that he will run for a senate seat in the forthcoming federal election.
Not everyone is happy to hear the news of Blundell's latest career move. The Queensland Sunday Mail report that Blundell's partner Jesse Curren is “vehemently opposed” to his decision to run for the senate seat, while former Katter Australian Party vice-president Kevin Brown has described the party's move to select Blundell as a “slap in the face”.
"The selection of James Blundell who was not even a member of the party is a slap in the face to every loyal member and every other Senate nominee of the KAP that have been waiting patiently since the close of applications on January 31," he wrote in an email obtained by The Courier Mail, though later stated “James Blundell will probably make a great senator.”
When speaking to News Ltd. after his announcement, Blundell admitted to being a former “Queensland homophobe”, who has since made “a lot of gay friends”, though he admitted he was undecided on the topic of gay marriage.
"I don't give (gay marriage) enough thought to consider it an important issue, but recognise that it is such an emotional issue for so many people,” he told AAP.
It seems the perception and understanding of regional Australia is another matter Blundell is interested in addressing, as well as the need to support its industries.
“I want people from town to understand it's not a backwater and the country has got to the stage where the wheels are falling off,” he told Fairfax Regional Media.
Blundell would be elected to senate in July next year if he is successful at the September 14 polls.
