[Australia Tonight has relaunched their channel tonight, with audiences switching on their tv’s to see Yala Talama’s face in the iconic Australia Tonight studio for the first time in years. The following is the transcript of the interview with Senator for Queensland BigBigBoss.]

Yala Talama: Good afternoon, and welcome to Australia Tonight. As a part of our relaunch, we will be conducting an interview series with the candidates putting their name forward on the ballot this election. These interviews are unscripted, and will be uncensored excluding where TV regulation requires. Continuing our series, I have with me the CPA candidate BigBigBoss. Welcome BBB.

BBB: Thank you for having me

Yala: To begin, we will start with the same question to everyone, who are you, where are you running and why are you running?

BBB: My name is BigBigBoss, I am a former three term MP for Capricornia and currently a Senator for Queensland, and Deputy Leader of the CPA. This election I plan to return to representing my former constituency of Capricornia. Capricornia needs a voice right now that will bring back its greatness, secure growth and deliver opportunities for its people. I believe I am the man for the job, with a great combination of drive and experience!

Yala: What are the key policies you are seeking to propose to the people of Capricornia this election?

BBB: My whole platform is about truly giving the people of a Capricornia a “Fair Go”. We are a community of blue collar workers, specifically miners. As such I plan to push for delivering more jobs to Capricornia, push for regional and rural development projects and provide security to everyone. One very important issue I want to heavily involve myself with, which the current CLP MP has outright ignored, is saving Glenden. Yala, would you believe that only because some sort of “contractual obligation” a town is planned to be effectively demolished? This is absolutely insane, and I am proud to currently be one of the very few people to actually address this issue — and to Capricornia I promise, I will save Glenden!

Yala: Are you not aware of Premier Palaszczuk's announcement today to block the demolition of Glenden?

BBB: I do commend the Premier for this action, but what it only involves is a change in legislation that prevents the worst from happening. What I wish to do is actually go further and provide for the town, if we are in government, in coordination with state officials, a new future. I want to bring business back into the town and bring jobs as well, not only saving Glenden but pushing for it’s growth!

Yala: Besides Glenden, what Capricornia specific policies are you running on this election?

BBB: One major policy area, other than jobs and bringing business to Capricornia, is certainly rural and regional development. I delivered for Capricornia’s Yeppoon a 500 million Development fund, to really enhance its capabilities and appeal. If elected I promise to further raise investment in regional and rural areas, and in fact streamline this process by creating a Regional Development Bank or even a specialized Department Regional and Rural Development, if I can get support for such a policy. I also plan to give great focus to environmental matters, further proposing nuclear energy legalization and seeking to deliver renewable energy projects wherever possible. Finally, there will be a crackdown on crime. Queensland is heavily suffering from crime right now and we need to fight it! I was the author of the Community Policing Fund, and following this election I plan to expand it wherever possible, in addition also expanding and modernizing rural police forces and changing our criminal justice system to really make sure the worst criminals truly feel the full force of the law!

Yala: What would the first month of Member for Capricornia BBB look like?

BBB: The first month will be crucial, unlike other members I will not “spam” parliament with motions but instead set into motion bill after bill! The immediate priorities will be a debate with the cabinet on the aforementioned regional and rural development issues and how to best move forward, Nuclear energy legalization and a dialogue with the state officials and policing experts on how to stop the crime epidemic and what they need for us as a government (hopefully!) to secure for this to be achieved!

Yala: What are your thoughts on this term and the events that occurred?

BBB: I think this term, especially in terms of the budget that passed, should be given a solid 5/10. The budget further invested into regional and rural projects, created the mental health commission and delivered negative income tax — which are all things I and the CPA always promoted! However the “hands off” approach of the Government has created a culture of inaction, and that’s why I ultimately resigned as DPM at the time. Australia needs action, not inaction. The rise and fall of the left wing has also been greatly entertaining, and I must say Ive had a lot of great laughs at all that has lately happened. I hope that now Australia will finally see that the only third way between the careless right and irresponsible left is the CPA!

Yala: Would you agree with your Leader in describing the LNP as "right-wing extremists"?

BBB: I personally prefer the term “careless right”, as it rightly describes their attitudes to Aussies across this nation. They’ve enabled their corporate associates, yet let down the ordinary people. I stand with my fellow Aussie battlers, all across this country, and I will not let anyone bring them down because of ideology and corporate interests!

Yala: Are you confident in your chances of election?

BBB: The decision is in the hands of my constituents Yala. I do trust however that they will see through the dogma of the left and the right and pick the third way presented by me and the CPA. I have delivered in the past and can deliver again, and at a time when Capricornia needed leadership yesterday, needs it today and will need it tomorrow, I am the only one capable of delivering meaningful reforms and policies to save our great constituency!

Yala: What are your thoughts on the performance of the Member for Capricornia this term?

BBB: Atrocious! The member has utterly failed to represent their constituents and this was more apparent than ever with the whole Glenden situation. Not a word on the matter Yala, not a word! They’ve not done anything other than act against the interests of their constituents, and frankly this was a wasted term for Capricornia! That’s why it’s time give Capricornia a second chance and deliver true reforms and give us all a fair go again!

Yala: Noting that you are an incumbent Senator, what have you done in office to address the previously mentioned issues?

BBB: Back in government I pushed to deliver the rural and regional development projects whenever we could, and you see this in the budget that passed. From education to access to clean water for rural communities to mental health, bushfires or rural policing there’s a lot! I’ve additionally led the charge on the first nuclear energy legalization bill, or resubmitted the drug crimes bill again — something that is a major problem in Queensland as well. For Glenden, as I’m out of government, my work could only be advocacy in press and parliament. However I stay happy knowing that even that in the end probably impacted the Premier’s final decision.

Yala: Have you or the CPA done any endorse ment or preference deals to help increase your chances of victory?

BBB: As a member of the party leadership I would not like to confirm or deny any deals we could’ve been involved in. That said, we always look to maximize our chances and cooperate with those who think alike and want to bring a genuine alternative — and this will be evident when the campaign week finally comes about!

Yala: Finally, do you have any message to the people of Capricornia before the campaign begins?

BBB: My friends, let’s not give the people who failed you another chance. The CPA, through me, has always stood by you. We needed a new representative yesterday, need one today and will need one tomorrow. Right now the only way to secure our future and greatness, growth and opportunities for us all is giving your vote to me and the CPA, and I sincerely hope all of you find yourselves in my upcoming campaign! Thank you and God bless Capricornia!

Yala: Thank you for your time BBB.

BBB: Thank you for having me Yala, greatly appreciated!