Independent perspective
a real representative
House of Representitives
Federal election 2025
Fairfax Electorate
Paul for Fairfax 2025
MEET PAUL
Your Fairfax candidate with an independent perspective.
As a life-long Sunshine Coast local with real-world experience, Paul McKeown has the independent perspective to make him a great choice as your Fairfax representative.
With over 30 years in the cockpit, former airline captain Paul has seen a lot of the world and every square inch of the country he loves.
As Paul says...
"When I was growing up, my heroes were the great Australian aviation pioneers like 'Smithy' and 'PG Taylor', and all I ever wanted to do was to fly and have adventures! It's been a long hard road, but somehow I managed to make a living out of doing just that...I am very lucky".
"I've aways loved my country too, and I feel a deep and powerful connection to my land and its people. Flying over Australia I am always awe inspired by its vastness and beauty. Flying high above our planet and being immersed in its atmosphere, gives a great sense of perspective which helps me to make sense of the world, and our place in it."
Paul's aviation career has shown him the people of Australia too...
"Ive been fortunate in my career to have had many opportunities to meet extraordinary people in all parts of our country and to hear their stories. I've flown the mail run to remote cattle stations and indigenous communities, helped deliver life-saving care as an aeromedical pilot in the bush, I've flown charter flights with corporate leaders and politicians, and as an airline captain I've looked after over a million every day passengers, mums, dads, kids and ordinary hard working Australians just travelling from place to place and hoping to get there safely. The one thing that has always struck me, is that Australians of all walks of life have much more in common than sets them apart."
"Regionally, I've flown extensively in the Pacific Islands, and I've also lived and worked in China for a time, so I also have a personal connection and some great insights into those very relevant parts of the world to Australia at the moment."
"I come from a family of workers and small businesspeople, and I have run a small aviation business myself. Small business is vital to our community and to the nation. I understand the issues, and have the utmost admiration for the hard working owners and staff who keep our small businesses going."
So why politics for a pilot?
"Wherever I go and when politics is mentioned the one thing that keeps coming up is people's despair over the lack of political leadership in Australia.
I am no polished politician..., but I love Australia, and I do know a thing or two about leading and taking responsibility - so I thought 'bugger it' ...if the people have a need, then I'll give it a go!...
What's the correlation?
"In the high-risk world of aviation, with the lessons of a hundred years of history, we have made the impossible both safe and routine - certainly by improving technology, but just as much by learning about the 'human factors'. For a leader like an airline captain, good decision making begins with teamwork and good listening. In the air, complex situations can develop rapidly and huge amounts of information must be processed quickly but correctly, and without the dangerous effects of ego or pre-conceived personal bias. We listen, gather the information around us, add it to our own skill and experience and then when necessary - act decisively to achieve a safe outcome for our passengers and crew. ...and of course we take full responsibility for the outcome. Now wouldn't it be good if politicians worked like that!"
"I believe I can make a difference by using my skills and life-experience, as well as plenty of empathy and understanding, to be a reliable representative and rock solid advocate for my community in the Australian parliament."
Why now?
"Australia is at a cross-roads. My kids have nearly all grown up and I am concerned about the Australia they are inheriting".
"I see the lack of leadership, I see a wasteful government with a bloated bureaucracy reaching ever further and more intrusively into people's lives, and I see our lack of productivity and progress."
"I see the people and small businesses struggling amidst rising living costs and crumbling infrastructure while our population continues to explode".
"I see life, education and politics dominated by ideology over reason, and I see the increasing division between our once proud and unified people".
"I see Australia losing the best of itself as it struggles with global forces we seem ignorant at times to understand, and I see us perilously close to losing our way as a nation in an increasingly dangerous and uncertain world."
"It's always been my belief that you shouldn't whinge about something unless you are prepared to stand up with courage and do something about it,
...and that's why I am standing up for Fairfax now."
Paul is a Sunshine Coaster through and through. He grew up on the coast and his family has been residing in the Fairfax hinterland town of Eumundi for the last 20 years where he and his veterinarian wife Katherine, raised their four amazing kids. The family also sports a once stray cat, a spoilt rotten Beagle, and of now a couple of 'entitled' chickens.
"We've been just so blessed living on the Sunshine Coast. I had a great 'free range' childhood roaming about on my skateboard and BMX...it was much quieter then...and whilst the coast has certainly grown, it's still a wonderful place to raise a family. I'm glad my kids have also grown up with the fresh air, sunshine and sand between their toes. We love the life in Eumundi with its wonderful community...and waking up to those misty mountains never loses its charm."
As an independent candidate, its not easy to contest, let alone win a seat, especially one as 'safe' to the incumbent as Fairfax, but Paul is confident he can do it with your help.
"The founders of our constitution always intended us to have local representation 'by locals' in the House of Representatives of our federal parliament, and within it, a great contest of ideas between our citizens - not party politics. That's why I have chosen to stand as an independent
"There's a long hard road ahead, especially in a safe conservative seat like ours and against an incumbent shadow minister, so I am going to need all your help along the way".
"Fairfax is a diverse electorate for its size, from rural Kenilworth and Obi Obi, charming Eumundi and Yandina, to dear Nambour with its golden soul, stylish Buderim, bustling Maroochydore and laid back Coolum...we've really got it all. But each community has their own issues, and having been let down by both sides of government - all are in need of decent representation. I think we can do this!"
"For my part, I will be working hard and without compromise to earn your respect and trust over the next months in the lead up to the election, and if you the people of Fairfax are willing - it will be my great honour to be chosen as your next federal representative."
Tallyho!
