Palmer a ‘crook’, Queensland deputy premier Jeff Seeney tells parliament

JUST a day after Clive Palmer applied to sue Queensland's premier for defamation, the deputy premier has called the federal MP a “crook”.

Deputy Premier Jeff Seeney has told parliament that Clive Palmer is a ‘crook’. Picture: Tim Marsden

JUST a day after Clive Palmer applied to sue Queensland's premier for defamation, the deputy premier has called the federal MP a “crook” in parliament.

Using the protection of parliamentary privilege, Jeff Seeney told Palmer United Party's state leader Alex Douglas he was in “the best party money could buy”.

“It's not even Australian money — the best party Chinese money can buy,” Mr Seeney told state parliament today.

“The best party that fraudulently obtained money can buy.

“The best party that a crook using other people's money can buy.”

Mr Seeney was referring to a report in The Australian that Mr Palmer's private company Mineralogy had been accused of siphoning more than $12 million from Chinese business partners and using some to fund his party's federal election campaign.

Mr Palmer yesterday lodged papers in the Supreme Court and served papers on Premier Campbell Newman through the Crown Solicitor.

Mr Palmer said the premier's claims during a recent media interview were false and damaged his integrity.

The federal MP for Fairfax is seeking $1.1 million in damages. If he wins the case, he's promised to give the money to a charity that's working with public servants sacked by the Newman government.

AAP