Queensland Labor ministers unleash on Clive Palmer, Coalition

Palaszczuk government ministers have declared the businessman would bring “chaos” to Canberra.

Queensland Minister for State Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Planning Cameron Dick. Picture: AAP

Palaszczuk government ministers have taken turns in Queensland parliament to criticise the Federal Coalition for its preference deal with the United Australia Party.

Labor MPs unloaded on the Liberal Party and UAP leader Clive Palmer during question time this morning, declaring the businessman would bring “chaos” in Canberra if he is elected to the senate.

Discussing road and infrastructure upgrades in Townsville, Transport Minister Mark Bailey led the attack, saying the region was still reeling after the closure of Mr Palmer’s nickel refinery in 2016.

Queensland Transport Minister Mark Bailey. Picture: AAP

“Sadly what we still see in Townsville is the loss of 800 jobs by Clive Palmer and his Queensland Nickel, (which) haunts the town to this day,” Mr Bailey said.

“We see the biggest bully and braggart bragging about his millions, yet I can reveal, still to this day he owes the Port of Townsville $1 million in fees he didn’t pay when he had Queensland Nickel.

“While this absurd situation is occurring we see the LNP and the Morrison government are preferencing him, trying to give him the balance of power in the senate.

“The chaos and division and dysfunction of the last three years will look like a tea party compared to Clive Palmer in the senate thanks to LNP preferences.”

Clive Palmer. Picture: AAP

Mr Bailey described Mr Palmer as a “conman” who cannot be trusted.

Cameron Dick was the next to criticise Mr Palmer, taking aim at the former Fairfax MP over the closure of Palmer Coolum Resort on the Sunshine Coast and the ongoing battle between Mr Palmer and the resort’s villa owners.

“(The Coalition is) selling those people down the drain,” Mr Dick said.

Tourism Minister Kate Jones blamed Mr Palmer for the downturn in visitation to the once-luxurious Coolum resort, which hosted the PGA Championship golf tournament for more than a decade before the partnership ended following Mr Palmer’s purchase of the resort, which he fitted out with dinosaur statues.

“What we know is this man, the man the LNP are happy to do a deal with, unilaterally decided to plonk his mate the dinosaur in the middle of the track and they lost the PGA,” Ms Jones said.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk. Picture: AAP

“It is shameful and it cost 600 workers their jobs.

“The LNP will get into bed with anyone if they think it will get them over the line.”

On Monday, Deb Frecklington said the Liberal Party’s preference deals were a “matter for the federal party”.

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

“I think it’s appropriate that Clive Palmer owes 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 owe it back’.”