Qld Palmer candidates defend selections

What do a retired soccer player, a lawyer, a wedding photographer and a real estate agent have in common?

If you said Clive Palmer, congratulations.

The Palmer United Party has drawn from a wide variety of careers for its candidates to contest the seats around the Gold Coast during this month's Queensland election.

Among them are former A-League footballer Kristian Rees, lawyer Shirley Morgan, businessman Jim MacAnally and real estate mogul Alex Caraco.

Despite their varied backgrounds most have either worked for PUP leader Mr Palmer or hold close business links to the mining magnate.

It does little to dispel former PUP state leader Alex Douglas's claims of nepotism and cronyism within the party's executive.

Mr Douglas, the member for Gaven, quit the party last year citing his disgust at how its pre-selection was being operated.

The man who is aiming to take his seat at the January 31 election, security agency owner Adam Marcinkowski himself had to overcome Mr Palmer's wife Anna for pre-selection.

Mr Marcinkowski says he's confident in the party's procedures.

"I believe that I am a good candidate for the electorate," he told AAP.

"I believe that I was scrutinised and looked over back to front.

"Everyone was crossed and dotted. I didn't know Clive. I didn't know anybody. I just went to a meeting with Jim MacAnally and that was it."

Mr MacAnally, contesting the seat of Burleigh, was also confident in the candidates the party had chosen.

"This was discussed at length and we feel we've got the right people for the right seats," he said.

"These were the candidates we wanted."

ONE DEGREE OF SEPARATION - GOLD COAST PUP ELECTION CANDIDATES WITH DIRECT CLIVE PALMER LINKS

* Kristian Rees (Currumbin) - played for Mr Palmer's Gold Coast United A-League club

* Blair Brewster (Albert) - Mr Palmer's nephew

* George Sokolov (Broadwater) - Mr Palmer's brother-in-law and resort wedding photographer

* Shirley Morgan (Coomera) - Lawyer for Mr Palmer's Mineralogy company