The conference is being held at the Bendigo RSL club and will be attended by representatives from the party’s branches across the state.

Victorian state co-ordinator Norm Dunn said the party had branches in Bendigo, Melbourne, Mildura and Shepparton with new groups planned in Gippsland, Ballarat and Melbourne’s east. Mr Dunn said Bendigo was chosen to host the inaugural Victorian conference because of its central location, and also because the party had identified the town as “struggling with proper leadership”.

The Bendigo branch of Katter’s Australian Party has been operating for just under a month and so far has 30 members.

But despite Mr Katter’s recent claim he would place a candidate in each federal seat, one is yet to be put forward for Bendigo.

“There hasn’t been a candidate that has been selected at the moment but that’s not too far off,” Mr Dunn said.

“I expect the party to go from strength to strength.

“People are sick and tired of the negativity and will embrace the positive foresight of the Katter Australian Party.”

Mr Katter will address the media at 1pm tomorrow to talk about what has been discussed during the Victorian conference.

It is expected he will announce some of the party’s new policies at this doorstop. Mr Dunn said Katter’s Australian Party was concerned with metropolitan as well as regional issues and was not just a party for farmers.

“We are not just aiming at farmers, we’re aiming at families, tradies and young people,” he said.

“We are for everyone, not just self-interest.

“We’re looking at things like the Murray Darling Basin plan, water conservation and farming water rights.”