Clive Palmer won’t recontest Queensland seat of Fairfax at poll

Clive Palmer tells parliament he’s abandoning his Fairfax seat, but he has more to contribute.

Clive Palmer in Question Time in the House of Representatives Chamber yesterday. Picture: Kym Smith

Clive Palmer will abandon his Queensland seat of Fairfax at the next election, pondering a tilt at the Senate as a “live option”.

The populist MP – who blasted into parliament in 2013 with a massive, self-funded advertising blitz – has not ruled out a tilt at the Senate at the July 2 election, having previously canvassed the idea with his Palmer United colleague Zhenya Wang.

Announcing his resignation from the House of Representatives, the self-described “billionaire” claimed politically charged attacks over his business dealings were political retribution for opposing the government’s policies.

Mr Palmer said he was considering a Senate tilt as a “live option”, describing the upper house as “where the action is”.

“I’m going to talk to my wife first and I’ll see what she says,” he told Sky News.

Pressure on Mr Palmer has intensified amid evidence the self-proclaimed billionaire siphoned more than $200 million from Queensland Nickel, the manager of his Townsville nickel refinery, before its collapse into liquidation earlier this month.

“Our nation needs to respect all those who serve in this place and give up part of their lives for our country,” he told parliament, to the heckling of Townsville-based Liberal MP Ewen Jones.

“The Bible tells us that we should not sit in judgment of others. Do not judge others as we have our own race to run and I believe life is full of opportunities.”

Mr Palmer, who will address the media later today, said his party would run Senate candidates in every state at the July 2 double-dissolution election.

He believed he could “contribute further to our great country” but stressed public service was “not just about parliamentary or government service”.

The businessman, a former Liberal National Party benefactor and acolyte of Joh Bjelke-Petersen, secured the seat of Fairfax and three senators at the last election.

Two of those senators – Glenn Lazarus of Queensland and Jacqui Lambie of Tasmania – subsequently defected from the party amid claims of bullying by their leader.

A slew of state and territory MPs who flocked to his banner from the Liberal Party also abandoned him.

Queensland will elect 12 new senators at the double-dissolution election, with candidates needing only 7.7 per cent of the statewide vote, after preferences, to be elected.

The Australian last month revealed Mr Palmer had canvassed with political operatives a switch from the House of Representatives to the upper house, where he would need only 7.7 per cent of the vote to be elected after preferences.

In response to the article, Mr Palmer insisted he was “standing in Fairfax” and would not attempt to switch chambers but may consider his options if he found a “better candidate” for his seat.

Mr Palmer will announce his plans later today when he will also unveil his Senate team in Western Australia, where senator Zhenya Wang is fighting for his political life.

Senator Wang has also told The Australian Mr Palmer had discussed running for the Senate, which the senator said would be a “logical step” for the Palmer United Party leader.

Mr Palmer had scheduled his press conference for 11.10am. but has delayed it until 3pm.

Backbencher Ewan Jones holds up a prop as PUP Leader Clive Palmer addresses the House of Representatives today.