Senators defend Clerk against ‘bully’ Clive Palmer

CLIVE Palmer has been labelled “a bully and a coward” following his “extraordinary” attack on Senate officials.

Dr Rosemary Laing, Clerk of the Senate whose office Clive Palmer accused of a “Stalinist” attempt to “veto” his senators’ proposed amendments to the carbon tax repeal bills.

CLIVE Palmer has been labelled “a bully and a coward” by independent senator Nick Xenophon following his “extraordinary” attack on Senate officials.

Opposition and crossbench senators have backed the Clerk of the Senate, Rosemary Laing, whose office Mr Palmer accused of a “Stalinist” attempt to “veto” his senators’ proposed amendments to the carbon tax repeal bills.

The Palmer United Party leader yesterday denied yelling at a Senate assistant clerk during Thursday’s chaotic parliamentary debate, but admitted threatening to “drag them to the High Court” after they advised his party’s proposed amendments were unconstitutional and could not be circulated to senators.

Mr Palmer, who is not a senator, claimed the official “ran away’’ after the exchange.

Senator Xenophon said Mr Palmer’s attack was “cowardly” since Clerk Rosemary Laing, for reasons of protocol, is unable to publicly defend herself.

“Clive Palmer’s remarks about the clerk of the Senate are cowardly, they are unwarranted, and Clive Palmer should apologise,” the South Australian independent senator said.

“These are the remarks of a bully and a coward.”

“He simply doesn’t know what he’s talking about and he’s diminishing himself rather than diminishing the institution of the Senate.”

The incident has been referred to the Senate’s Liberal president, Stephen Parry.

Mr Palmer yesterday said of Ms Laing: “She can’t interfere and stop them from doing it - that’s what it boils down to - otherwise you get a bureaucrat being able to veto legislation and we don’t want that. That’s what happens in Stalinist Russia.”

Greens leader Christine Milne told ABC Radio: “The clerks are not there to be directed by senators if it is outside the rules of the Senate. That is the fact. And these people are professionals, they are helpful, they are impartial and they are certainly not there to be abused by senators if they won’t do as the senators direct them to do when it is obviously against the rules.”

The Leader of the Opposition in the Senate, Penny Wong, said Ms Laing has “always served the Senate with integrity, impartiality and professionalism”.

Democratic Labour Party senator John Madigan described Mr Palmer’s attack as “a low blow” that does him “no credit”.

“Rosemary Laing and her staff are, I’d say, impeccable. I’ve only ever found them to be helpful and professional. They’re a credit to the Senate,” Senator Madigan told ABC Radio.

“I’d suggest play the issue not the person. The staff of the Senate are not to be attacked. I think it’s a low blow. It does Mr Palmer no credit.”