Bill Shorten ramps up attack on ‘dodgy’ Clive Palmer

Shorten ramps up attack on Palmer, using him as an example of an employer who plays “fast and loose with the rules”.

Clive Palme owes the Commonwealth $67 million it paid Queensland Nickel workers as compensation after he closed the refinery. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Bill Shorten will today ramp up his attack against United Australia Party leader and Queensland Senate candidate Clive Palmer at a Western Australian business breakfast, using the billionaire as an example of an employer who plays “fast and loose with the rules”.

As he announces a new low-cost small claims jurisdiction to sit alongside the Fair Work Commission and crack down on wage theft, the Opposition Leader will also warn against “dodgy employers” who run and hide from paying their entitlements.

“It’s not just workers who suffer,” Mr Shorten will tell The West Australian’s leadership matters breakfast.

“When people like Clive Palmer play fast and loose with the rules — and the truth — he’s insulting all the workers to whom he owes money, he’s insulting all the Australian taxpayers who are effectively subsidising his billboards and text messages and his endless, baseless TV ads.

“And he’s also laughing at all the businesses who do the right thing by their employees.”

The Liberal Party clinched a preference deal with the UAP, whose preferences could determine election results in marginal seats, but Labor candidates have also preferenced Mr Palmer’s candidates in what Josh Frydenberg estimates is 84 electorates.

Mr Shorten has repeatedly attacked the Coalition for its preference deals with the UAP and Pauline Hanson’s One Nation and will today claim Mr Palmer would enter federal parliament “with a political IOU almost as big as his ego” if he is elected.

“The damage inflicted by this coalition of chaos — to climate policy, to economic policy, to the fabric and functions of our democracy — is one of the biggest threats posed at this election. It would make Australia an international laughing stock,” Mr Shorten will say.

“Two years ago, the people of Western Australia had the wisdom to reject the Liberal-One Nation alliance and choose a responsible, reforming Labor government. At this election, I’m asking all Australians to make that same sound judgment, to reject the coalition of chaos, to say no to a Morrison-Palmer-Hanson government and vote for my stable, united and talented Labor team.”

Mr Palmer owes the Commonwealth $67 million it paid Queensland Nickel workers as compensation after he closed the refinery.

The former Fairfax MP claims he has $7m to repay the workers, which his party says has already been paid.

Mr Palmer has been contacted for comment.