Kevin Bailey was in Horsham on Wednesday to talk about the party’s strategies, purpose and solutions ahead of next year’s federal election.

Mr Bailey is a Melbourne businessman, philanthropist and former Special Air Service soldier and diplomat.

Last year, he was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia.

Mr Bailey said his party had a number of members in the Wimmera, and he enjoyed the chance to meet them.

He said the Conservatives had a number of plans, including ones to ease the pressure on the cost of living and protect Australian values.

“The party has only been going for 18 months, and it’s come out of a sense that people are pretty disillusioned with politics – the whole thing seems to be broken,” he said.

“Everyday people seem to have switched off in a large respects, because there seem to be a lot of careerists and people who are just in it for themselves, and no strong values-driven approach.

“I stood for election in the Senate not because I want a career in politics and not because I’m looking to join this big Canberra bubble, but rather to try to make things right.

“We believe that the time is ripe for a common-sense, fair dinkum party that is standing on principles.”

The federal election date has not been set.