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August 7th, 2013 
Senate candidate James Blundell (R) says Peter Garrett’s intellect was wasted in politics.
Source: AAP
COUNTRY music star James Blundell says fellow artist Peter Garrett’s intellect was wasted in politics.
But the lead Queensland Senate candidate for Katter’s Australian Party has vowed his celebrity status won’t be exploited, in the same way Labor used the former Midnight Oil frontman.
“I think Peter Garrett is the greatest misuse of intellect I’ve seen in my adult, politically active lifetime,” he told AAP.
“The decision makers and policy makers should have been listening to what Peter was saying because the reason Peter Garrett and Midnight Oil became incredibly famous was because they really, really connected with their peers, and half a generation above and below.”
Blundell says he and Mr Garrett chatted about the shaved-head rock star’s future career as they sat side-by-side at country music legend Slim Dusty’s funeral in 2003.
He also feels that Mr Garrett, who is retiring from politics at this election, was unfairly tied to the failed pink batts scheme.
“To give him pink batts is the stupidest thing I’ve seen in my life,” he said.
The 28-year music veteran and Golden Guitar winner says his own celebrity status won’t be exploited, after persistent pleas from party leader Bob Katter for him to stand.
“If a celebrity is there for the glory of it, they will be badly hurt,” he said.
Blundell called State of Origin coach and rugby league great Mal Meninga for advice, and to ask why he famously aborted a 2001 run for the ACT parliament.
“Mal is a bloke I absolutely love and he was one of the people … I had a list of people to call because I wanted to know what happened,” Blundell said, adding he hoped not to “go the Mal route”.
Blundell also admits to being in favour of gay marriage, unlike many in his party.
“We have an agreement to disagree or to keep that whole issue away from the top 20 important things to discuss,” he said.
“We don’t see eye-to-eye on it 100 per cent.”
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