LNP senator wants journalist Hedley Thomas as witness on Palmer

THE Coalition senator on the Palmer-initiated inquiry into the Queensland government wants Hedley Thomas to give evidence.

THE only Coalition senator on the Palmer-initiated inquiry into the Queensland government wants to invite award-winning journalist Hedley Thomas to give evidence on Clive Palmer’s business and political dealings.

Liberal National Party senator Ian Macdonald said he wanted to invite Thomas, The Australian’s national chief correspondent, because “he might relish the opportunity of being a bit more expansive under parliamentary privilege’’ about Mr Palmer.

Senator Macdonald and the Greens want to examine the environmental impact of Mr Palmer’s coal and nickel holdings, as well as the former state Labor government record on coal-seam gas approvals.

The manoeuvring means the Palmer United Party inquiry, which got the go-ahead this week, may backfire on Mr Palmer. A five-member committee headed by PUP senate leader Glenn Lazarus will tour Queensland investigating all aspects of Campbell Newman’s LNP government in the lead-up to next year’s state election.

“I get the feeling Labor’s enthusiasm for the inquiry will wane very quickly, particularly as ... every question that is asked on the Newman government I will repeat for the Bligh government.’’