December 4, 2023
Clive Palmer has announced that he will not contest the seat of Fairfax at this year’s election.
Palmer made the announcement during a valedictory statement to the House of Representatives. He left open the possibility that he might run for the Senate instead.
In his speech, Palmer defended his business interests, claimed he had been persecuted by the media, and itemised a long list of alleged achievements of the Palmer United Party.
Clive Palmer asked one of his unique questions in the House of Representatives today.
Palmer, the member for Fairfax, rose at 2.21pm and asked Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull the following:
Hansard transcript of Clive Palmer question to Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.
Listen to the exchange:
Mr PALMER (Fairfax) (14:21): My question is to the Prime Minister. As Australia’s third-oldest Prime Minister, if you are still Prime Minister after the election, will you serve a full term in parliament or will you retire to your unit in New York and do a switcheroo with the member for Warringah, sustaining yourself with innovation and growth opportunities your investments have provided for the people of the Cayman Islands? It has never been a more exciting time to be a Cayman Islander! Are you a seat warmer?
The SPEAKER: The Prime Minister can address any part of the question.
Mr TURNBULL (Wentworth—Prime Minister): I thank the honourable member for his question. If he had not found it so amusing as to be laughing right through it, we might have been able to hear most of it. Nonetheless, I gather the honourable member is inquiring about my health. I thank him for his interest and I can assure him I am in the very best of form.
Palmer got one thing right. Turnbull is the third oldest person to assume the office of prime minister. He was 60 when he was sworn in on September 15, 2015. He turned 61 on October 24.
2.20pm – The federal government has struck a deal with Clive Palmer and the Senate has voted 36-33 to abolish the mining tax.
The agreement will see the Income Support Bonus continue until the end of 2016. The Schoolkids Bonus will also continue until the end of 2016 but will be means-tested and eligibility will cut out for family incomes above $100,000. The Low Income Super Contribution will continue in its existing form until June 30, 2017. The agreement will also see a slower increase in compulsory superannuation, with an increase to 10% from July 2021 and then by increments until it reaches 12% in 2025.
Clive Palmer has apologised to China over his remarks on the ABC program Q&A last week.
Palmer wrote to Mr. Ma Zhaoxu, China’s Ambassador to Australia, to say he regretted “any hurt or anguish” his comments “may have caused any party”.
In his appearance on Q&A, Palmer called the Chinese “mongrels” and “bastards”. He said the “communists” were trying to take over Australia’s ports and steal Australia’s resources.