Labor not seeking Herbert preference deal with Clive Palmer

Labor strategists have all but abandoned attempts to strike a preference deal with Clive Palmer after their polling found he will be shunned by voters in the most marginal seat in the country.

LABOR strategists have all but abandoned attempts to strike a preference deal with Clive Palmer after their polling found he will be shunned by voters in the most marginal seat in the country.

The Opposition has calculated they are better off taking Mr Palmer on, believing it can generate support among voters angry at him ripping off workers his failed Queensland Nickel refinery even after his backflip yesterday.

Mr Palmer’s preferences, along with those of other minor parties such as One Nation and Katter’s Australian Party, could help decide the result in Herbert, which Labor’s Cathy O’Toole won by just 37 votes in 2016.

Mr Palmer has based himself in Herbert but has not confirmed whether he will stand as a candidate in the seat or in the Senate.

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Clive Palmer has not announced whether he will run for the Senate. Picture: Alix Sweeney

But Labor focus group testing of Townsville voters conducted last month suggests Mr Palmer’s support base is very weak in the city.

“The people of Townsville know Clive best,” a senior Labor source said.

“The know that Clive is always about Clive and the research supports that.”

It is unclear whether Mr Palmer’s pledge to repay workers from his failed Queensland Nickel will help boost his vote.

Labor strategists would not rule out approaching Mr Palmer for a preference deal but said they do not hold out much hope because he has launched legal action against Ms O’Toole and declared “nothing will save” her.

Instead, Labor is devising a strategy to portray Mr Palmer as part of the “chaos and dysfunction on the conservative side of politics”, a senior strategist said.

Labor leader Bill Shorten has slammed Clive Palmer’s pay offer. Picture: Kym Smith

Bill Shorten took a swipe at Mr Palmer after his wage pledge yesterday.

“Most Australian businesses know they have to pay their workers every week, fortnight, or month,” Mr Shorten said.

“This guy wants a medal for, after a couple of years, to pay back money which the taxpayers had to subsidise.

“Do you know what I find it amazing? He could find $20 million or $30 million for TV advertising and billboards but he couldn’t find the money to pay his workers.”

The LNP has not attacked Mr Palmer, who used to be one of their biggest donors, but they are equally wary of his influence.