Clive Palmer’s UAP ‘wrong’ to picture candidate in military uniform, defence watchdog says

The United Australia party has been criticised for picturing one of its candidates in military uniform in political advertisements, an act defence advocates say is "wrong" and could be interpreted as suggesting defence support for the party.

Clive Palmer's UAP is again running a vast number of candidates across every lower house seat. This week, the UAP used full-page ads in major Australian newspapers to publish the names, mobile phone numbers and pictures of each candidate.

One of the candidates, Benjamin Britton, who is running in the New South Wales electorate of Cunningham, was pictured wearing a beret.

Defence has in previous elections warned political candidates against using their military uniform to campaign for political office, saying it threatens the independence of the Australian Defence Force. In 2019, it sent official notices to former military members standing for election, warning them against appearing in uniform during campaigning.

The Australia Defence Association, an independent watchdog monitoring defence matters, criticised the UAP for picturing Britton in the beret, saying it was "wrong" and should cease.

ADA executive director, Neil James, said the beret appears to be an older version of the beret worn by 3rd battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, indicating Britton is a veteran.

James said representing military service in such a fashion, where it was the only available image of the candidate, suggested to voters that the ADF supports the person's candidacy. He said the practice, if allowed to continue, risked politicising the military.