The big news in the Queensland state election campaign today, overshadowing as journos like to say even Kevin Rudd’s launch of Kate Jones’ new website and Anna Bligh and Campbell Newman’s trip to flood ravaged Charleville, is an “extraordinary” press conference by mining magnate Professor Clive Palmer.
Palmer, a large donor to the LNP, had been in the news because he alleged that the state Co-Ordinator General and QR National had made a political decision on a rail connection for the Galilee Basin. Palmer’s company, China First, is now suing QR National for $8 billion.
There has been controversy today about whether LNP leader Newman had met with Professor Palmer to discuss the project.
Palmer seems to have given quite the spray at his presser.
With Palmer known to be a close supporter and major funder of the LNP, and with a public perception that both major parties are too close to the mining industry, this is the last story the Opposition would want. But it will probably run and run.
NB: Clive Palmer holds the title of Professor at Griffith University. Update: It appears that Professor Palmer is an Adjunct Professor at Bond University, and chairs a Griffith University Board.
This must be good news (just not sure who for)!
The professor does not seem to have a deft touch when it comes to dealing with political issues
The gift that keeps on giving. Clive may even believe that he is an asset to the LNP.
Newman’s propensity to get it wrong is building up to be another gift.
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/state-election-2012/poll-call-february-1-20120201-1qrxe.html#ixzz1l6y8nJr0
Who needs internal leadership speculation? It looks like the external leadership speculation is doing a good job right now.
Real terms, probably not enough in itself to derail a LNP victory but it should be enough to save a few of the ALP’s rather scant but clever state talent pool. Guess we shall see how it comes out.
Well, as far as I can see, a week’s gone by and most of the media the LNP has got has been about their own stuffups, disputes and schisms. Clive will add to that. First, Campbell’s apparently unclear about when and about what he said to Clive, secondly, Campbell will be on the news denying he’s giving Clive special treatment.
Not a good look.
… this is the last story the Opposition would want. But it will probably run and run.
Along with a little help from its
palsallies at LP…I don’t think we need to do very much, TimT. Professor Palmer is quite capable of generating enough copy without any assistance from us.
Kim, according to the ABC report you’ve linked to he’s suing QR for $8 billion , not $8 million.
I think you’ve disrespected him by failing to recognise his grandiose audacity and delusions.
To put this in perspective today it was reported that he’s suing an industrial arbitrator who found against him over the issue of a soccer player’s contract, and a newspaper that reported on it, for $10 million each.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/billionaire-launches-suits-over-soccer-club/story-e6frg6nf-1226258831031
If he keeps this up you may have to do a post on him as someone pursues him as a frivolous and vexatious litigant.
I’ll amend the post accordingly, GregM!
This not the first time Palmer has been a distraction to the LNP. He took Anna Bligh and Andrew Fraser to court for defamation during the last state election and apparently the LNP were not happy about it either as not only was it a distraction but it gave sympathy to Bligh.
I don’t think His Eminence has a professorial appointment at Griffith. The link reports him has chairing a prestigious board at Griffith, but that’s a separate thing to his academic title. It appears, from googling, that from 2002-2006 he was an Adjunct Professorship in the Faculty of Law and Business at Deakin, and now he appears be an Adjunct Professor of Management at Bond.
d
Mark Arbib seems to prefer undisclosed donations[sic].
Faceless man no more.
Well, that lets Griffith off one hook!
Amended post, Darryl, but “His Eminence”? Is he also an Adjunct Cardinal?
He’s a cardinal something-or-other, that’s for sure.
d
Is he really a professor? He was an adjunct at Deakin until 2006. Terrible that giving a few lectures to MBA students gives you the title if you’re well connected. Bond doesn’t seem to claim him on its website as one of their professors.
I can’t see evidence that he’s bought another adjunct Professorship as of yet so let’s stop degrading the whole idea of academic titles and call him Mr… And being an unpaid adjunct Professor who doesn’t regularly lecture really shouldn’t be called a professor except in the confines of his university work
I noted that he calls himself “Professor Palmer” in a lot of his material. I think Andrew Fraser has started calling him that in the press for a particular reason.
He does claim to be an Adjunct at Bond, and is described on various Griffith University websites as Professor Palmer, so presumably he holds a title at Bond.
How much is a Professorship worth these days? I didn’t realise they were selling them (although I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised).
Judging by the Brisbane Times’ live blog today, Professor Palmer is the biggest election issue right now: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/state-election-2012/poll-call-february-2-20120202-1qtz8.html
Tim @ 19,
He probably paid less for it than for his ownership of the LNP.
Palmer’s behaviour is standard practice in the LNP. Bullying is their method of operation. I don’t envy any public servant who has to deal with them after the election. The university LNP students are very practised bullies at more than one campus and will all be getting jobs with LNP pollies after the election. Within student unions they conduct shady elections and pay for votes. They harrass, villify and assault opponents. Shades of the National Party of Bjelke Petersen. They will once again be in charge of the police, education, prisons and families, promoting everyone who thinks like them in every department. I find it depressing that we went through those years and may return there so easily.
Clive Palmer and Gina Rinehart…..isn’t it wonderful how the mining industry throws up these public-spirited citizens who want to participate in the policitical process.
Jabba was on Lateline tonight and talked about potentially buying into Fairfax with Gina Rinehart in the hope of “bringing back good journalism”. Surprisingly he took a few shots at Murdoch and the Courier Mail too.
@Jacques d’M: Australia’s biggest troll – both literally and figuratively.
Clive Palmer not helping LNP
Does that mean he is excess baggage?
Interview with Clive Palmer on Lateline had Tony Jones fawning like a 14 yr old schoolgirl,cheeks aflush in response to big Clive offering him a job as Senior journalist in his suggested new Brisbane daily paper because he admired Tony’s skills, well worth a look,would the title of this new rag perhaps be View from the Blimp.
Are the White-Shoers about to be superseded by the Mining Boot Brigade?