Clive Palmer says he wants to be PM CLIVE Palmer wants to be prime minister and his candidates are coming to a seat near you. The mining magnate is re-forming the United Australia Party (UAP) which will run candidates in 150 lower house seats and a senate team in each state and territory at the September 14 federal election. He was endorsed by the executive to be federal leader and to run in the Sunshine Coast seat of Fairfax. "I'm standing to be the next prime minister of Australia," he said. I have no personal interest. I have made enough money in my life, I'm not seeking any enrichment of wealth for myself, I'm seeking it for the Australian people. I could go off and stay in Monaco, have a nice drink and forget about this country, but we've got more commitment to Australia and your children than anyone else. Mr Palmer's Coolum resort and dinosaur park are located within the seat of Fairfax, which is currently held by retiring LNP MP Alex Somlyay. Over coming weeks, "major figures in politics, in this nation's history" would join his party. He signalled his nephew Martin Brewster, who is the director of Mr Palmer's Queensland Nickel, would also run. If the party won power it would repeal the carbon tax and refund monies already paid back to companies. "The Gillard government has handicapped Australian industry," he said. It would support the Gonski education reforms, reduce indigenous mortality rates, and oppose any relaxation of gun access. Mr Palmer would also ban lobbyists from becoming politicians or holding party positions. He decided to enter the political ring as a result of the poor policy decisions of the Gillard government and a lack of confidence in the federal opposition. "I'm fed up with watching Tony Abbott who is no different to Julia Gillard," he said. Mr Palmer denies he'll stump up $20 million on a new campaign for his political party. He wouldn't say if he'd accept a pay packet, or how he'd balance his political intentions and mining interests. "As far as I'm concerned I'm fulltime running for prime minister," he said. Mr Palmer, a former lifetime member of the LNP, quit the party after publicly attacking the Queensland government. He labelled Treasurer Tim Nicholls and Deputy Premier Jeff Seeney "crooks" and called for their resignation. Former Queensland Liberal Party vice president Jim MacAnally and former Queensland National Party vice president Susie Douglas flanked Mr Palmer for the press conference. Both are on the UAP executive. Opposition Leader Tony Abbott says Mr Palmer's new party might compete with Bob Katter's outfit on the political fringe. But Mr Abbott said voters would go for those who were serious, who had put in the hard yards and could deliver competent, stable and trustworthy government. The United Australia Party (UAP) was founded in 1931 by Labor dissidents and a conservative coalition in response to the more radical economic proposals of Labor during the Great Depression. Leader Joseph Lyons became the first UAP prime minister in 1932 and was leader until his death in 1939. Robert Menzies took over the leadership until 1941, when the party suffered defeat at the polls by the ALP, led by John Curtin. After a massive election defeat in 1943, Mr Menzies was convinced the party was no longer viable and a new anti-Labor party was needed to replace it. As a result, the UAP was absorbed into the new Liberal Party of Australia in 1945, with Mr Menzies as leader.