Clive Palmer challenges Jacqui Lambie over PUP leadership

CLIVE Palmer accuses Jacqui Lambie of being a “mouthpiece” for her chief of staff and reveals Rob Messenger has been expelled.

Lambie poses with Clive Palmer and PUP senators Dio Wang (L), Glenn Lazarus (R) along with Australian Motoring Enthusiast Party (AMEP) senator Ricky Muir (2nd R).

PALMER United Party leader Clive Palmer is confident rogue Senator Lambie will not leave the party, though she has apparently failed to return his calls over the past week.

“She hasn’t indicated she wants to resign or anything like that,” the PUP leader told the ABC late today after earlier challenging the senator to challenege him for the leadership.

“I don’t think she is.

“I don’t know what she’s upset about, I can only take it that she wasn’t happy when we said we wouldn’t turn our back on the Australian flag on Remembrance Day.”

“It’s up to her, she’s an individual Australian with every right to decide if she wants to stay in the party or not. I know we’re very attractive to her.”

Mr Palmer said Senator Lambie knew she had been elected on the PUP ticket and thought the party had “the right solutions”.

“There’s no reason to think she won’t (stay in the party), she’s said she won’t leave the party so that’s what it looks like,” he said.

Asked if Senator Lambie was on an “ego trip”, Mr Palmer said the Tasmanian had not been in Parliament very long.

“She thinks it’s all about her, not about the people she represents,” he said.

“That’s what I’m concerned about.

“Whether you’re a Senator or in the House of Reps, you’re only there to listen to the people and do what they say.”

Mr Palmer did not step back from calling Senator Lambie a ‘drama queen’ earlier today, saying “Everyone’s entitled to a shake-up when they’re acting silly.”

Earlier report: CLIVE Palmer has called on rogue senator Jacqui Lambie to challenge him for the Palmer United Party leadership, as he revealed her chief of staff Rob Messenger had been “expelled”.

The PUP leader also said Senator Lambie’s decision to vote against all government legislation while the Australian Defence Force pay deal remained at the below-inflation rate of 1.5 per cent was “irresponsible”.

“I am aware that she has made some comments in the media and I think these threats are contrary to what Senator Lambie should really be concentrating on which is her duty to represent the Tasmanians who elected her,” he said in a statement.

“However if what she says about being unhappy with her party’s leadership is true, she should make a challenge, otherwise get on with the job of representing the people who voted for her.”

Mr Palmer said the party had met last night and decided to dismiss Mr Messenger because of his “disruptive influence”.

“Everything Senator Lambie says is really coming from her chief of staff. Senator Lambie is simply Rob Messenger’s mouthpiece,” he said.

“Last night our executive met and we have agreed to expel Rob Messenger from the party on the grounds of making false and misleading statements about our senators.”

The revelations come after The Australian revealed Senator Lambie had become so estranged from the party that she no longer planned on attending partyroom meetings.

Senator Lambie has continually attacked Mr Palmer over the last week since she took her stance on the ADF pay deal.

Mr Palmer and senators Glenn Lazarus and Zhenya Wang have refused to back Senator Lambie’s decision.

“One vote can’t block anything,’’ Mr Palmer said today.

All parties should unite over the ADF issue. Increase their salaries & entitlements. Together we can be strong. Lets show some love! #love

— Clive Palmer (@CliveFPalmer) November 13, 2014

Mr Palmer also said the senator had made no official approach to split from the party.

Senator Lambie has said she would only quit if Mr Palmer asked her to because of a “verbal agreement” between the pair.

While Senator Wang’s office said he supported the PUP leader’s comments today, Senator Lazarus dismissed Mr Palmer’s description of Senator Lambie as a “drama queen” as he called for unity among the balance of power senators.

After an explosive opening hearing of the PUP-initiated Senate inquiry into the Queensland government, Senator Lazarus admitted that he was uncertain whether Senator Lambie would remain in the party.

“I’m not going to comment other than I was disappointed with the comments from Jacqui,” he said.

“We stuck together on the floor and at the end of the day that’s the most important thing, no one has crossed the floor... whilst we stay as a block we certainly have the balance of power in the Senate.

“I just hope that Jacqui and Dio (Senator Wang) and I and Ricky Muir realise that because we can and have got a lot done.”

Mr Palmer said he wanted “rational arguments rather than threats” form Senator Lambie.

“I am amazed why Jacqui Lambie is being such a drama queen when the Palmer United Party unanimously supports the ADF and opposes the government’s proposed pay structure,’’ he said.

“Like all political parties, Palmer United makes policy in its party room where Senator Lambie has always been encouraged to bring any proposal forward to the group. She has never brought a proposal forward.

“It is inexplicable why she feels she doesn’t have her colleague’s support. Criticising me or her party colleagues is against party procedures.”

Senator Lazarus defended Senator Lambie against the “drama queen” comment, saying: “She’s has some issues as far as veterans and making sure her state of Tasmania is looked after, and she is very passionate about that.

“I think she just comes across as a bit different from most, she speaks her mind, she says it how it is, she doesn’t beat around the bush.

“I don’t think that is being a drama queen.”

The PUP leader also said Senator Lambie appeared to be more focused on her own “quest for power” rather than representing Tasmanians.

“Her individual vote is insignificant unless she joins as a team in our bloc and, on the issue of ADF improvements, this can be achieved,” he said.

“It’s not what Jacqui Lambie thinks is important or Clive Palmer for that matter, it’s what we can do for the community that’s important.

“Threats to the government will have the opposite effect as will any threats made to Palmer United Senators. The alternative is simply putting rational arguments to the party meeting.”

Crossbench senators David Leyonhjelm and Bob Day said they would attempt to form a voting bloc with Senator Lambie “on some issues of mutual concern” if she left the PUP.

“Senator Leyonhjelm and I will try and form a voting bloc with Senator Lambie on issues of mutual concern, like energy policy,” said Senator Day, from Family First.

“South Australia and Tasmania have a lot in common. Both states are deep in the red. I’ll vote with Senator Lambie on any issues that help South Australia and Tasmania get back in the black.”

Senator Leyonhjelm said it could mean that the government negotiate with him and Senator Day before they speak with Mr Palmer’s bloc.

“The government needs six votes and we would be three of them,” the Liberal Democrat said. “It might mean instead of being approached second by the government we might be approached first.

“Obviously there are significant policy differences at times and I’m not sure how it would work.”

Mr Messenger ran for the PUP at last year’s election, contesting the federal Queensland seat of Hinkler.

He was also a long-serving Nationals MP in the Queensland parliament in the 2000s, during which time he helped to blow the whistle on alleged malpractice by Bundaberg surgeon Jayant Patel.

Mr Messenger departed the Liberal National Party in 2010 amid concerns about his controversial views on Islam and more than $8000 spent on taxpayer-funded travel. He has denied any wrongdoing over the travel claims.