Will the ABC air Clive Palmer’s presentation?

The mining magnate cancelled his previously scheduled speech at the Press Club at the last minute in February after contracting Covid-19. Picture: Liam Kidston

Clive Palmer’s address to the National Press Club is back on. The mining magnate cancelled his previously scheduled speech at the last minute in February, after he was hospitalised with flu-like symptoms (which later turned out to be, spoiler alert, the novel coronavirus). The unvaccinated United Australia Party chair is pencilled in for April 7, plans to use the opportunity to get fis(i)cal and provide his official Budget Reply. The question on every lunchtime viewers lips ... will the ABC air Palmer’s presentation? If it does, will the TV broadcast be live or on delay? And will it be on the main channel or the news channel? There was a fierce internal debate between Aunty’s Ultimo HQ and Canberra Bubble™ bureau last month, over how to handle the oration. A decision made more complicated by the power vacuum at the top of ABC News, created by the departure of boss Gaven Morris last year.

Climate 200 founder Simon Holmes a Court Press Club Q + A ran live and in full on the ABC news channel. Picture: Aaron Francis

Some ABC hawks argued Palmer should never be given a national platform to air his anti-vaxxer views, while others said he is a major player in the looming federal election and the public — including those prone to live tweeting — deserved to see him scrutinised by journalists as it’s happening.

Prominent ABC identities privately pointed out that other Press Club Q + As, like that of Climate 200 founder Simon Holmes a Court, ran live and in full on the main channel. ABC Radio host Sabra Lane said on Twitter that Palmer’s speech was “a chance to question him about policies, what he intends doing *if* the party wins seats in what could be quite a close election. More sunlight on people/policies is better for all voters to be informed”. After this paper’s own Media Diary reported on plans to shelve the speech, Aunty clarified it would run Palmer on a 90-minute delay at 2pm on the ABC News Channel. (A decision that had all the hallmarks of being a late one, given the electronic program guides suggested alternative plans).

ABC Radio host Sabra Lane.

You can imagine the quiet sighs of relief around the corridors of channel two, when Palmer pulled the pin a few hours before he was set to hit the NPC stage on February 22. As for take two in April? There’s been no scheduling announcement … yet. But Strewth’s spies expect the speech will be shown on delay, as previously planned.