Lazarus ‘not sure’ if Clive to testify at Newman inquiry

GLENN Lazarus yesterday denied blocking a push for Clive Palmer to give evidence at the inquiry into the Newman Government.

Senator Glenn Lazarus and Ian Macdonald at the Senate inquiry into the Newman Government. Picture: Darren England.

FORMER rugby league forward Glenn Lazarus yesterday denied blocking a Coalition push for Clive Palmer to give evidence at the Senate inquiry into the Newman government in Queensland.

After senators and committee staff flew across the country to Brisbane for a three-hour hearing, Senator Lazarus said he was unsure if he supported the call for his party leader to front the inquiry.

But Senator Lazarus, who as inquiry chairman has refused to allow debate on the motion to call Mr Palmer, said it would go to a vote at a “convenient time” in the new year. The Newman government is likely to be fighting an election early next year.

Mr Palmer’s office refused to say whether the businessman and federal MP — who repeatedly has claimed to have evidence of corruption in the Newman government — would give evidence. The inquiry was set up by the Palmer United Party with the support of federal Labor and the Greens.

As polling yesterday showed support for PUP crashing in Queensland, it emerged that one witness had failed to declare he was a Labor-endorsed candidate for the looming state election.

Union researcher John Martin was accused of covering up his candidacy after he attacked the Newman government’s changes to industrial relations laws.

In his testimony, Mr Martin conceded he had no evidence or allegation of government corruption. As he left the hearing, Mr Martin told the committee: “Thanks for the free media.’’

The inquiry has been blasted by the Newman and Abbott governments as politically motivated and a “farce”, with yesterday’s proceedings delayed by an hour so Greens senator Larissa Waters could drop her child off at school.

Senator Lazarus did not answer when asked about the value for taxpayers of the inquiry, estimated to cost at least $50,000 a day.

At one stage, when a decision of the former Labor government was canvassed, he moved to stop questions by Coalition senators, saying: “Whatever Labor did has nothing to do with what we’re here for’’.

Lock the Gate spokesman and former Greens candidate Drew Hutton gave evidence, condemning approvals of coal-seam-gas projects by the former Labor and current Newman governments.

During the heated hearing, Liberal senator Ian Macdonald accused Senator Lazarus of being the “one-eyed brick” — a play on his rugby league moniker, the “brick with eyes” — saying the committee was unfairly represented by PUP, ALP and Greens senators.