People

Peter Whelan

Peter is a successful businessman. For 25 years he was Managing Director of electrical engineering company Uniserve Pty Ltd and more recently Chairman of CSE-Uniserve Pty Ltd and director of several related companies with interests in the mining industry.

In 2007 he resigned those positions to concentrate on his investments and interests in beef cattle farming and deer hunting. He is also Treasurer of Glenorie RSL Club.

Peter is a foundation member and currently President of the Coalition of Law Abiding Sporting Shooters Inc (CLASS Action) and author of the publication Gun Prohibition in Australia: an expensive mistake. He has been a major contributor and supporter of the Shooters Party and was involved with David Leyonhjelm in the Outdoor Recreation Party's federal campaign in 2004.

He is a qualified electrical engineer and a Fellow of the Institution of Engineers. He is married with three grown children.

Peter is currently National President.

David Leyonhjelm

David has had an interest in politics since the early 1970s when, as a member of Young Labor, he worked on the It's Time campaign to help end military conscription.

The following decade he joined the Liberal Party in an effort to promote economic freedom, resigning in 1996 in disgust at John Howard's extremist gun laws.

He joined the Shooters Party in 1992 (while in the Liberal Party), became the party's Chairman in 1999 and managed the successful 2003 campaign that retained the party's NSW Legislative Council seat.

When the Shooters Party was deregistered federally just prior to the federal election in 2004, he used the Outdoor Recreation Party to run a team of shooters for the Senate and marginal NSW seats. The party's Senate preferences helped prevent the Greens from taking the final seat.

He also managed the LDP's federal election campaigns in 2007 and 2010.

He has a classical liberal outlook, favouring individual choice and freedom over government intrusion.

David is married and owns an agribusiness consulting company in Sydney. A former veterinarian, he also has degrees in business and law. His sporting interest is target shooting.

David is currently the LDP's National Treasurer and Registered Officer.

Jim Fryar

Jim Fryar lives in Gympie, having been involved in farming there for some years before moving to the drilling industry.

During thirty plus years in mining and exploration he has gained a unique perspective on the nation, working in all sort of areas from the hearts of cities to some of the remotest parts of the country. These days he is mainly involved in training, trouble shooting, and consultancy.

Mr. Fryar said one of the most common threads to come up, no matter where you are, is out of control government. People have been increasingly irritated by the intrusion into their daily lives by three levels of government, all of which constantly pass rules that impact on the population.

From developing your land right through to taking the kids down to throw a line in the creek, the kill-joys are there to restrict you and extract a price.

“It makes me proud,” he said, “to stand with the Liberal Democrats against this. Our motto, ‘say no to the nanny state‘, really hits the nail on the head. All of us are sick and tired of elitists who think they know better than us how to run our lives."

Jim is currently on the National Executive.

Gabriel Buckley

Gabriel Buckley is a web developer and IT consultant in South-East Queensland. Born in Melbourne, Gabriel grew up in regional Victoria.

Gabriel finds the LDP platform to be a natural choice given a personal political philosophy emphasising individual freedom and responsibility.

"The government needs to spend less time (and money) worrying about what we drink, who we sleep with and whether or not we've got our seatbelts on; and more time safeguarding the rights and freedoms of ordinary Australians. As parents, consumers and citizens, we are in the best position to decide what is best for us, not the faceless bureaucrats of Canberra."

A keen musician, Gabriel has lived in Brisbane since 2009.

Gabriel is currently on the National Executive.

Michael Gameau

Michael Gameau is a former Squadron Leader in the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) and currently a professional services contractor in the Defence sector.

During his 19 year career as a Navigator with the RAAF he flew on both the P-3C Orion and C-130E Hercules aircraft.  He also spent seven years in Canberra where he gained significant experience working in government.

In 2003 Michael received a commendation for his role as the Tactical Coordinator with the first Orion crew deployed to the Middle East for the Gulf War.

Michael grew up in the seat of Makin, attending Banksia Park Primary and High Schools and playing football with the Tea Tree Gully District Football Club.

Michael has an Associate Degree in Business Studies and a keen interest in finance and politics.

Michael is currently on the National Executive.

Clinton Mead

Clinton was elected to Campbelltown Council in 2012. He is also on the party's National Executive.