John Bjelke-Peterson, son of former premier Joh, joins Palmer United Party and will contest seat in state's south-west John Bjelke-Petersen has joined the Palmer United Party and will run for a seat in Queensland's south-west PIC: Megan Cullen Source: The Courier-Mail JOHN Bjelke-Petersen, the son of former premier Sir Joh, will contest the seat of Maranoa for billionaire Clive Palmer's fledgling political party. Mr Bjelke-Petersen left the LNP earlier this week, fuelling speculation he would join Mr Palmer. "John Bjelke-Petersen is an outstanding candidate for the seat of Maranoa," Mr Palmer said in a statement. He possesses a strong personal knowledge of the rural sector and has vast political experience, making him the ideal voice for the people of south-west Queensland. Mr Bjelke-Petersen - who claimed to have quit the LNP because he felt the party had ignored regional Queensland - said he was "honoured" to join the often-troubled Palmer United Party. Polling was last year undertaken on behalf of a "consortium of businesses" that showed he would fare well in Maranoa. The seat, the largest federal electorate in Queensland, is currently held for the LNP by veteran politician Bruce Scott.