Palmer shrugs off Labor attacks over Lib preference deal
Clive Palmer says he is fed up with personal attacks in politics, arguing what matters is what his United Australia Party can deliver.
Clive Palmer has been placed second on the Coalition's Senate voting cards in South Australia. Photo: AAP/Glenn Hunt
In an extraordinary interview, the billionaire tried to deflect attacks from his political opponents, ahead of the election on May 18.
Labor has sought to discredit the “tosser” and “con man” after the Liberal Party struck a preference deal with his populist party.
“Let’s face it, I’m a bad person. I’m a bad person,” he sarcastically told Nine’s Today Show on Monday.
“Who cares about me? We care about this country and the policies we need to get done.”
Despite reports Labor officials informally met with Mr Palmer to discuss trading vote preferences, frontbenchers such as Anthony Albanese have been upfront about what they think of him in recent days.
Among Labor’s complaints is that Palmer didn’t pay $7 million in workers’ entitlements after his Queensland nickel refinery collapsed in 2016, while spending more than $30 million on election advertising.
“Scott Morrison had a choice between standing up for ripped off workers or sucking up to a tosser who ripped them off and he chose the tosser – he chose Clive Palmer,” Albanese said on Friday.
Palmer said $7 million will be available to the workers of the refinery through a trust managed by a solicitor from Tuesday.
The “fake news” of personal attacks should stop, he argued.
But he stressed attacks against him haven’t left him rattled.
“For too long, people have pandered to people on the media and the news and worrying what they think, like and how they appeal,” he said.
“My wealth is $4,000 million. Do you think I give a stuff about you personally think or anyone else? I care about this country.”
The United Australia Party has its sights set on forming government.
“Why do you think we’re standing in 151 seats across this nation? Because we intend to win.”
-AAP
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