Tony Abbott: ‘Vote Labor over an independent’ as he blasts Clive Palmer

Tony Abbott has made an astonishing claim today as he unleashed on Clive Palmer after his bid to re-enter politics was dealt a huge blow by Pauline Hanson.

Tony Abbott has hit out at an “absolutely shameless” Clive Palmer for spending millions on an election campaign while refusing to pay workers dudded when his Queensland Nickel refinery collapsed.

The former prime minister unleashed this morning, saying it was “just outrageous” for the billionaire businessman to be spending millions of dollars a month on his bid to be re-elected.

It comes as Mr Palmer’s chances of claiming a seat in Parliament were dealt a crippling blow by Pauline Hanson today with One Nation vowing to preference the United Australia Party last at the election.

“I know that commercial freedom means that people within reason have got to be allowed to advertise but all of the money, I mean literally millions a month, are being spent at the moment by Clive Palmer,” Mr Abbott told 2GB this morning.

“That’s money that really belongs to the creditors of his bankrupt Nickel refinery, particularly the taxpayers and the workers.

Former prime minister Tony Abbott. Picture: AAP

“The workers who got dudded and the taxpayers who had to fund their redundancy payments.

“It’s just outrageous. He’s absolutely shameless this bloke.”

Mr Abbott then went to to tell listeners that they should vote for Labor over an independent.

“If you want a credible parliament, if you want serious government don’t vote independent. It is better to vote for the Labor Party than to vote for an independent,” Mr Abbott said.

“Because for all Labor’s faults at least they are a party of government or potential government and that means there is a level of responsibility which the Labor Party has to take which no independent or minor party does.”

PALMER V PAULINE

Meanwhile, Mr Palmer’s battle with Pauline Hanson is heating up after One Nation accused the UAP of poaching its potential candidates for key seats.

Senator Hanson has told The Australian her party “could not in all good conscience consider preferencing Clive Palmer until he pays all of his former workers’ entitlements”, referring to the collapse of Mr Palmer’s refinery north of Townsville which is said to owe $300 million.

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Pauline Hanson says One Nation will preference Clive Palmer’s party last, crippling his bid to re-enter politics. Picture Kym Smith

The move could kill off any chance Mr Palmer has of making a political comeback in the federal seat of Herbert - the most marginal seat in the country and held by Labor’s Cathy O’Toole by just 37 votes.

Mr Palmer hit back at One Nation’s move, telling The Australian: “We’ll be putting Pauline Hanson last.”

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United Australia Party (UAP) leader Clive Palmer hit back by vowing to preference One Nation last. Picture: AAP

The businessman and former politician told the publication he had already rejected an approach by One Nation for UAP preferences, which One Nation denied.

Mr Palmer has spent millions in political advertising already, including sending political text messages to voters across the country last week.

The texts attracted more than 3000 complaints.

One of the texts ironically promised to end political parties sending voters unsolicited text messages.

Read more at The Australian