Clive Palmer uses parliamentary paternity leave for one of his other babies

WHEN father-to-be Clive Palmer asked for a paternity leave pass from federal parliament, few realised what it was really for.

WHEN father-to-be Clive Palmer formally asked for a paternity leave pass from federal parliament, few realised it was to give him time to hob-nob at the birth of a vanity project - the "World Leadership Alliance" at his Sunshine Coast dinosaur park.

As political foes and friends alike endured another long parliamentary sitting in Canberra yesterday, Mr Palmer zipped between a beach club, lunch, cocktails and a fancy dinner at the beachside resort, sharing the prestige of his exalted roles as the alliance's "secretary-general", as well as "president of the World Economic Council".

Bemused staff, who leaked the confidential internal diary of his day to The Australian yesterday, said Mr Palmer owed the Speaker, Bronwyn Bishop, an explanation for potentially misleading the house.

GRAPHIC: Palmer's leave pass

After a leisurely morning in the sun at Coolum yesterday, Mr Palmer hosted lunch in what he calls the Titanic Room, followed by meetings with VIP guests, a soiree with World Economic Council invitees, and a 5pm cocktail party in the Presidential Suite.

Dinner was a leisurely affair, with Mr Palmer on best behaviour after recently losing his temper, Basil Fawlty-style, and abusing $950-a-night French guest Didier Guerin as a "f . . kwit" and ordering his removal because he complained about a raw $40 steak.

When Mr Palmer issued his plea to the Speaker on Tuesday afternoon for an early mark from parliament, it was for the birth of his fourth child. He did not mention his commitments yesterday to meetings, and wining and dining with visitors for the alliance he leads. "On indulgence, Madam Speaker, I request leave from the house to be absent from tomorrow for the birth of my child next week," Mr Palmer said.

Ms Bishop replied: "I am sure the house wishes you every good wish and the successful arrival of a new Australian."

Resort insiders revealed that Mr Palmer's commitments at the resort in a parliamentary sitting week were already locked in, due to the World Leadership Alliance event for international delegates of Spanish think tank Club de Madrid.

The Australian revealed in July how Mr Palmer had made donations of almost $1 million to Club de Madrid, shortly before it bestowed two new titles on him: secretary-general, World Leadership Alliance, and president, World Economic Council.

The bodies did not exist until Mr Palmer's donations, however, his claim that they also made him an adviser to the G20 was rejected by former treasurer Chris Bowen.

The title of the four-day dinosaur-park event, "Societies that work: jobs for inclusive growth", has annoyed some resort staff as jobs there have been slashed from more than 650 to 150 in fewer than three years.

The resort has slumped dramatically under Mr Palmer's management to calendar-year occupancy of less than one-third of the 60 per cent the Hyatt achieved as operator. Today, the remaining staff - told to sign confidentiality contracts to reduce leaks - will be kept busy attending to the needs of Mr Palmer's guests.

Mr Palmer, who has launched defamation proceedings against The Australian, did not respond to questions yesterday.