One-time maverick MP Craig Kelly has joined a new political party, seeking to return to federal parliament.

Kelly told Sydney’s 2GB he had joined the Libertarian Party and planned to run for a Senate seat in next year’s election.

“We need better government in this country, and I’m determined to try and get back into that federal parliament,” Kelly on Monday.

Kelly was elected as the Liberal MP for the NSW seat of Hughs in 2010. In 2021, he defected to sit on the crossbench, and eventually joined Clive Palmer’s United Australia Party.

Despite billboards touting him as “Australia’s future prime minister”, Kelly was not elected for UAP in 2022.

In 2023 he ran as an independent in the NSW election, but was unsuccessful.

Earlier this year, he joined Pauline Hanson’s One Nation as federal campaign director. He has since left that role, but remained glowing about Hanson.

“She’s a wonderful lady. She’s done an enormous, fantastic job for this country,” he told 2GB.

“I have the greatest respect for Pauline Hanson and everything she has done in Australian politics and I wish her all the best, but the Libertarian Party is now who I will be working with.”

Despite his numerous party memberships, Kelly said his “values haven’t changed”.

“I believe in small government. I believe in the entrepreneurial ability of Australians. Get the government out of the way, get the government out of their hands. That’s what the Libertarian Party stands for,” he said.

“Unfortunately, the Liberal Party that I used to be a member of, appears to have abandoned all those values.”