Don’t trust ‘bully’ Palmer, evicted Coolum Resort owners say

The mother-in-law of Queensland’s LNP leader Deb Frecklington says Clive Palmer is a ‘bully’ who ‘can’t be trusted’.

Palmer Coolum Resort timeshare owners Russell Bennett, left, Chris Shannon and Maree Frecklington. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen

The mother-in-law of Queensland Liberal National Party leader Deb Frecklington says Clive Palmer is a “bully” who “can’t be trusted” and warns Scott Morrison that the businessman could be destabilising for the government during the next term of parliament.

Maree Frecklington is one of more than 300 investors in the Palmer Coolum Resort burned by Mr Palmer after he closed the resort and sought to block investors’ access to their accommodation.

Ms Frecklington said yesterday the Prime Minister may have been “wet behind the ears” to enter into an agreement with the former member for Fairfax, who she said was “not to be trusted”.

“I can see and I hear what he’s saying now in the press, that if this is how the Coalitio­n gets in, to beat Bill Shorten, so be it,” she said.

“But good luck to him in reining Clive Palmer in to a great way of thinking.”

In 2011, Mr Palmer purchased the luxurious and immaculately maintained Hyatt Regency resort that hosted the flagship golf tournament the Australian PGA Championship.

But the rebranded Palmer Coolum Resort had a massive slump in visitation and was closed in March 2015, with 600 staff losing­ their jobs.

Soon after taking over, Mr Palmer became locked in a legal battle with shareholders in the resor­t’s villas, mostly retirees, who Mr Palmer has claimed have no legal rights. Power and water to most villas was cut and the properties are in disrepair.

Ms Frecklington urged Mr Palmer to “lead by example” and pay out the villa shareholders. “You’re hurting retirees, the self-funded ones who have helped this nation grow,” she said.

“It’s probably less than $20 million to pay us out. Be a man. He’s in it for him, he’s not here as a great Australian as he makes out.”

Ms Frecklington said she hoped voters would remember Mr Palmer’s treatment of Coolum shareholders and Queensland Nickel workers.

“Even do some research, please,” she said. “What he’s done in the past won’t be forgotten.”

Maree’s daughter-in-law Deb Frecklington said this week that the Liberal Party’s preference deals were a “matter for the federal party”.

She urged Mr Palmer to pay out entitlements to Queensland Nickel­ workers and Coolum shareholders.

“I think it’s appropriate that Clive Palmer pays back every red cent that he owes,” the LNP leader said. “I think the people of Townsville and the people of Coolum would say exactly the same thing — if you owe people money, you should pay it back.”

Fellow timeshare owner Chris Shannon said he “felt sick in the stomach” about the prospect of Mr Palmer being elected to the Senate­. “The problem is, the public in general are just not familiar with his persona,” Mr Shannon said.

“They don’t understand who he is. They just see this image he portrays, which is not who he is.”

Mr Shannon said the Liberal Party’s preference swap did “not sit well” with him.

Most LNP candidates have listed United Australia Party House of Representatives candidates second­ on how-to-vote cards but Fairfax MP Ted O’Brien, who won back the seat after Mr Palmer vacate­d it in 2016, put the UAP candidate fourth, ahead of ALP in fifth, while the UAP is second in Senate preferences.

Queensland Infrastructure Minister Cameron Dick raised the plight of Maree Frecklington in parliament yesterday, saying the LNP was selling her and other shareholders “down the drain”.

Tourism Minister Kate Jones blamed Mr Palmer for the loss of the PGA Championship and downturn in visitation to the once-luxurious Coolum resort.

“It is shameful and it cost 600 workers their jobs,” Ms Jones said yesterday. “The LNP will get into bed with anyone if they think it will get them over the line.”