Zhenya Wang confirms Clive Palmer might run for Senate

Palmer United Party senator Zhenya Wang says his boss Clive Palmer has canvassed a switch to the ­Senate.

PUP leader Clive Palmer at a Transport Workers Union rally in Canberra.

Palmer United Party senator Zhenya Wang says Clive Palmer has canvassed a switch to the ­Senate, but not made a final decision, as divisions within the PUP emerge over the Road Safety ­Remuneration Tribunal.

While Senator Wang insisted he would stay loyal to the PUP at the election, he said a move from the lower house to the upper house would be a “logical step” for his leader Mr Palmer.

“He (has) certainly speculated that scenario,” Senator Wang said, confirming The Australian’s story yesterday. “I don’t think he has made his mind up. All I can say is it seems a logical step, but ultimately it’s up to him.”

Mr Palmer said he had not “made any moves” towards a ­Senate spot, but may consider his options if he found a “better candidate” for his lower house Queensland seat of Fairfax, which pollsters predict he will lose.

Senator Wang said he “didn’t know” if a more suitable candidate could replace Mr Palmer, but it was a matter for the party.

The PUP leader appeared at a Transport Workers Union rally yesterday sporting a “safe rates” T-shirt just hours after Senator Wang voted with the government and other crossbenchers to abolish the RSRT, the very body the union has been fighting to keep.

The split also played out on Twitter, with both Mr Palmer and Senator Wang posting photos of themselves at opposing demonstrations held one day apart. ­Senator Wang said he and Mr Palmer had voiced their “different opinions” but ultimately he exercised his right to a conscience vote and went against his leader.

“He (Mr Palmer) was fine. We expressed our own opinions. We couldn’t align our opinions, that’s why I voted my way,” Senator Wang said.

Mr Palmer said there was “no animosity” between him and ­Senator Wang, his sole remaining senator after Jacqui Lambie and Glenn Lazarus, who were elected on the PUP ticket, defected.

As the fallout over the collapse of Queensland Nickel continued, Senator Wang said the only “pressure” he was feeling was from other parties trying to ­“persuade” him to join their ranks — offers he says he rejected as ­recently as last week.

Senator Wang said he believed he would take over the party leadership if he was re-elected, but Mr Palmer lost, joking he was “plotting” a leadership challenge.