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The Result Of Clive Palmer’s Al Gore Stunt: Carbon Tax Abolished, ETS Dead

Jun 25, 2014

The cynicism of today’s stunt by Clive Palmer became clear late tonight as the Palmer United Party leader confirmed that his senators will vote for the abolition of the carbon tax and the emissions trading scheme.

Palmer

Earlier today, Palmer called for the establishment of an emissions trade scheme (ETS) that would only come into force once China, the United States, the European Union, Japan and Korea had also taken action to establish similar schemes. International action of this order is all but impossible to imagine. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Abbott, Audio, Climate Change, Opinion, Palmer United Party Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Clive Palmer To Sue Campbell Newman Over Vote-Buying Claim

Apr 28, 2014

The leader of the Palmer United Party, Clive Palmer, says he will sue the Queensland Premier, Campbell Newman, over comments he made that Palmer was buying votes.

Palmer

It was announced yesterday that three indigenous representatives of the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly – Alison Anderson, Larisa Lee and Francis Xavier Kurrupuwuy – would join Palmer’s party. The three members resigned from the Country Liberal Party government a few weeks ago and now sit as independents. Anderson is also a former member of the ALP. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Audio, N.T., Palmer United Party, Qld Tagged With: , , , , ,

Clive Palmer Releases Memorandum Of Understanding With Motoring Enthusiast Party

Dec 30, 2013

Clive Palmer has released the text of a Memorandum of Understanding his party has with Senator-elect Ricky Muir of the Australian Motoring Enthusiast Party.

The document, dated October 6, says “each of the parties intends to work together and where it is practicably to vote together in the Senate”. The parties express “a desire to cooperate and assist each other as may be appropriate”.

The agreement permits each party to vote in Parliament in accordance with their policies, principles and conscience.

The document lists four points numbered 1, 2, 4 and 5. It itemises three statements as A, B and D. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Electoral Reform, Greens, Palmer United Party, Senate Tagged With: , , , ,

Greens And Sports Party Prevail In WA Senate Count; Next Stop Court Of Disputed Returns

Nov 02, 2013

The Greens and Sports Party candidates have prevailed in the recount of the Western Australian Senate election but their success may be shortlived as a legal challenge to the result looms.

The official recount concluded today after the Australian Electoral Commission computer conducted a full distribution of preferences. The Australian Sports Party candidate, Wayne Dropulich, was elected to the fifth position, whilst Greens Senator Scott Ludlam was re-elected to the final position.

Ludlam

Dropulich and Ludlam missed out in the first count. A 14-vote margin in one of the distributions led to the ALP’s Louise Pratt being re-elected and the Palmer United Party picking up a seat. The recount has overturned that result. [Read more…]

Filed Under: 2013 Federal Election, A.L.P., AEC, Audio, Greens, Palmer United Party, Senate Tagged With: , , , ,

The New Senate Numbers And The Abbott Government

Oct 03, 2013

As counting of the 2013 federal election winds down, the Senate election result is now clear.

There is a small chance of change in Western Australia where the Greens have asked for a recount following Scott Ludlam’s defeat.

Because of the fixed terms of the Senate, it will be another nine months before the complexion of the Senate changes. Current senators remain in place until June 30, 2014.

The current numbers are:

The Current Senate – until June 30, 2014
Party/Group No.
Coalition
34
A.L.P.
31
Greens
9
D.L.P. (Madigan)
1
Independent (Xenophon)
1
TOTAL
76

In this configuration, the Greens hold the balance of power. The Greens-ALP combination has a blocking majority. It ensures that Abbott government legislation to repeal the carbon pricing arrangements and the mining tax will most likely be rejected by the Senate.

This will be the state of the parties in the Senate after July 1, 2014:

The New Senate – from July 1, 2014
Party/Group No.
Coalition
33
A.L.P.
26
Greens
9
Palmer United Party
3
D.L.P. (Madigan)
1
Liberal Democrats (Leyonhjelm)
1
Australian Motoring Enthusiast Party (Muir)
1
Family First (Day)
1
Independent (Xenophon)
1
TOTAL
76

 

In this configuration, the ALP-Greens combination becomes less important and power shifts to a collection of minor groups and independents. [Read more…]

Filed Under: 2013 Federal Election, A.L.P., Abbott, D.L.P., Greens, Liberal Party, Opinion, Palmer United Party, Senate Tagged With: , , , , ,

Greens Seek Recount After Scott Ludlam Loses Western Australian Senate Seat

Oct 02, 2013

The Greens have asked for a recount after its one-term Western Australian Senator Scott Ludlam lost his seat today.

LudlamPredictions since election night have held that Ludlam and the Australian Sports Party candidate, Wayne Dropulich, would win the final two seats in WA. However, when the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) computer distributed preferences today, the ALP’s Senator Louise Pratt and the Palmer United Party’s (PUP) Zhenya Wang emerged victorious.

Ludlam’s defeat was caused by a 14 vote difference between Australian Christians and Shooters and Fishers candidates that ensured preferences flowed to the ALP and PUP ahead of the Greens and Sports Party.

Clive Palmer’s party will now have 3 senators after next July. Palmer has won the House of Representatives seat of Fairfax by 7 votes but a recount will begin tomorrow. PUP won 709,076 primary votes – 5.49% – nationally in the House. In the Senate, it won 658,892 votes, or 4.91%. By any measure, this is the most successful performance by a new party since the Australian Democrats won two Senate seats in 1977.

The final result in Western Australia sees the re-election of the Liberal Party’s two senators, David Johnston and Michaelia Cash. However, the Liberals have lost one seat by failing to replace retiring Senator Alan Eggleston.

Aside from incumbent Senator Louise Pratt, the ALP has also elected Joe Bullock. Pratt’s narrow victory reflects the low ALP vote of just 26.59%. [Read more…]

Filed Under: 2013 Federal Election, A.L.P., Abbott, Greens, Liberal Party, Palmer United Party, Senate Tagged With: , , , , , , ,
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