All aboard Titanic II with Al Gore, coal-fired Clive and Jeff the barbecued T-Rex

Finding out the hard way about renewables. Mark Ludlow, Australian Financial Review, September 11:

Clive Palmer … plans to build a … coal-fired power station … (as) more coal was the answer to Australia’s energy needs. “Coal-fired power stations are cheaper than renewables but we’re finding out the hard way,” he said.

Helping us find out the hard way? ABC’s 7.30, June 25, 2014:

Sarah Ferguson: Australian politics has witnessed many strange events, but few as gobsmacking as the ­alliance revealed late this afternoon between maverick politician Clive Palmer and former (US) vice-president Al Gore. The billionaire MP and the world’s most famous campaigner against global warming have joined forces to turn Tony Abbott’s climate policy upside down … In a stunning turnaround, Palmer … wants to keep the renewable energy target and the Climate Change Authority.

Will Clive’s power station be like Palmersaurus? Bianca O’Neill, Junkee.com, August 8, 2014:

Only eight months after Palmersaurus opened … you’re welcomed by Jeff, a T-Rex that sits at the ninth hole … the resort used to be home to the Australian PGA Tour — until Jeff materialised … The day I visit, Jeff is broken … A couple of golf pros look on suspiciously as we repeatedly attempt to get Jeff’s “press to roar” button to work … But Jeff is just the first taste … (160) robotic dinosaurs … roar, blink, sluggishly move their limbs, and slowly gnash their teeth … (a) disembodied Brontosaurus … swings its head … as we pass … Unoccupied rooms … loom over … the occasional golfer attempting to make par while two idiots repeatedly press the “roar” buttons … Some of them, perplexingly, baa like sheep … this (review sums up the experience): “Drove 3.5hr … to take my 4 year old to Palmersaurus … never seen someone so excited, but when we had reached the far end … which took 20 mins … he says … ‘Okay dad. Let’s just go home.’ — 1 star”

Will it end up like Jeff? Jo Skinner, abc.net.au, March 3, 2015:

Fire has destroyed a 10m model Tyrannosaurus rex … at Clive Palmer’s resort … Mr Palmer told the ABC he did not believe arson was involved in Jeff’s demise … “Jeff’s brother is waiting in the dinosaur park to be liberated” … (he) said. “Question is whether we bring him out … he’s very happy with the other dinosaurs … Queensland fire … superintendent Russell Thompson said … “this is the first time I’ve had a dinosaur on fire”.

Will it arrive on Titanic II? Poppy Reid, thebrag.com, July 31:

Remember Titanic II, the … brainchild of … Clive Palmer … It was due to sail from China to Southampton … in 2016 … yet here we are, July 2018 and no ­Titanic II.

Or the Hindenburg? James Thomson, Smart Company, May 7, 2012:

In 2010 … (Clive Palmer) floated the idea of investing in airship technology, registering … Zeppelin International and musing … about the fiery clash of iconic Zeppelin the Hindenburg. Palmer later said that interest in the Zeppelin was low “but maybe in the future. We’ll see.”

Satire? The Shovel, August 24:

Announcing … a leadership spill today, Deputy Prime Minister Josh Frydenberg said … it was time for a fresh approach … “Morrison had a good crack; but he’s had the entire weekend and clearly he hasn’t turned things around. We can’t let this linger on and on.”

Life imitates art. Tony Wright, The Sydney Morning Herald, September 14:

Josh Frydenberg … has emerged from the Liberal Party leadership convulsions … a mere heartbeat from the prime ministership … His first phone call was to Howard. “It took me only four years to become treasurer,” Howard chuckled. “You’ve taken eight years. What took you so long?”