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Clive's financial interests are also something PUP seems to believe in protecting. As recently as March this year, Clive was insisting that the repeal of thew Carbon tax needed to be retrospective to get his support. Something that would deliver a huge windfall to his business interests. And more recently, Jacqui Lambie decried the profits banks were making and floated the idea of a 'super-profits' tax on Banks. At the same time she hasn't raised a concern about the profits of miners, and will likely follow Clive's instructions and vote to repeal the MRRT after July 1st. Clive has previously the repeal is a 'fait acompli'.
Clive's ability to position himself as the anti-politician who is there for the 'everyman' is unlikely to last long. His latest attempt to increase his sway in parliament which goes far beyond his actual level of support will surely come back to bite him. Palmer learned his politics from Bjelke-Petersen, and it shows. Palmer has his own vested interests (as Joh did), and in time they will be revealed to more and more people.
The PUPs (based on their policy settings) are also seriously ill-informed about a number of things.
While their party policy is to restore free education, they have not explained how this might occur. But then PUP will be focusing on selective blocking of legislation and not on actually enacting any policy.
And listening to Clive Palmer on ABC's Lateline prior to the WA Senate election was both embarrassing and alarming. Alarming as we saw Clive's notorious temper bubble to the surface as Tony Jones challenged Palmer's ridiculous assertions. Embarrassing for the fact that he was supposed to be debating Ross Garnaut on the merits of a price on Carbon. Garnaut argued from the perspective that was intelligent and well informed, while Palmer exhibited his lack of belief and knowledge of climate science. In response to the consensus scientific view set out in the latest IPCC report, Palmer dismissed the weight of scientific opinion, at one point saying:
"Well, I can get a group of scientists together, Tony, and pay them whatever I want to and come up with any solution. That's what's been happening all over the world on a whole range of things,"
Let's hope he doesn't commission his environmental impact statements for his mining activities in the same way.
It has also been noted that Clive is now trying to portray himself as a more serious politician. He does however speak a great deal without saying very much at times... much in the mould of his hero and mentor Joh Bjelke-Peterson.
It really is quite impossible to know what PUP stand for and what they will do, but at some point this will have to be revealed. Much of the party's current support comes from those who are disenfranchised by Abbott. The real test of their true level of support will come after July 1st, at which time they will rightly be judged on their actions.
Between now and then we will likely see plenty of cringeworthy performances from both Palmer and Lambie, and will continue to hear nothing from the former footballer, and the kangaroo poo collector. And you would expect that after Dio Wang's recent performance, Clive will likely muzzle him.
I for one will be very interested to hear any of the speeches which are made in the Senate by the PUP (and Motoring Enthusiast) Senators. I'm sure some of them will go viral on YouTube.
The idea that he will think and act independent of Palmer is clearly laughable.