'No conflict' of interest, but Clive Palmer to abstain from mining and carbon tax repeal votes

CLIVE Palmer has decided to absent himself from votes on the government's carbon and mining tax repeal bills.

CLIVE Palmer has decided to absent himself from votes on the government's carbon and mining tax repeal bills, saying he doesn't want to unduly influence the vote.

Mr Palmer, whose company Queensland Nickel has a $6.2 million carbon tax debt, said he did not believe he had a conflict of interest, but had listened to media coverage of the issue.

"I've had to look at the scrutiny of (The Australian's) Hedley Thomas and others," he said.

"Look, it was a wise choice not to seek to influence the process unduly."

He said his decision was a personal one, and would not apply to Palmer United Party senators in any carbon tax vote next year.

"Each individual has to look into his own heart and say 'Do I think I have a conflict?' That's in company law or anything," he said.

"And if you do think you have a conflict you should do the right thing. Now I've looked into my heart and I don't think I have a conflict, right?

"However, I've been responsive to what the press has said ... and I have acted accordingly."

Mr Palmer maintained until now that it was "just rubbish'' that his personal interests could be in conflict with his political responsibilities.

"As a member of parliament, you don't have a conflict of interest. Only if you're a minister,'' Mr Palmer told the ABC's 730 program.

"That's what the legal cases say. Members of parliament are free to vote as they want on anything.''

Mr Palmer missed a number of votes in the parliament his morning that had nothing to do with the carbon or mining tax.

He said he absented himself from the chamber because he didn't want to be accused of influencing members on the issues.