If the Palmer Chameleon didn’t exist would Barry Humphries have had to invent him?
Back in the money again. ABC News, January 17:
Clive Palmer is back near the top of … Forbes’s list of … richest Australians.
Never mind the bankruptcy, most workers were paid. Shannon Molloy, news.com.au, January 15:
(When) Mr Palmer’s Queensland Nickel business (collapsed) in 2016 … (it) closed with debts of $300 million … Mr Palmer yesterday rubbished claims from former employees that they are still owed salaries and entitlements and described it as “fake news”. “It’s public record that most of the Queensland Nickel workers have been paid everything they’re owed,” he said.
Who paid whom? He paid himself. They were paid by you. Ellie Sibson, ABC News, January 23 last year:
Clive Palmer retrospectively approved more than $170 million in payments from Queensland Nickel to himself, his family and his corporate interests during two meetings late last year, which he chaired … They include $14 million to Mr Palmer himself, $7.7 million to his father-in-law, $57 million to his Coolum golf resort and $9.2 million for his resort in Bora Bora … Liquidators are trying to regain $300 million owed to creditors, including $70 million to the federal government, which was forced to pay workers’ entitlements.
Hey big spender, spend a little money on us, not cheap texts. Max Koslowski, The Sydney Morning Herald, January 17:
Clive Palmer has vowed to plunge an extraordinary $50 million into his … federal election campaign, in a cash splash that could outstrip (Labor and the Liberals) … (He) has spent $3.7 million on … advertising since last September … (with) $115,000 on press advertisements in newspapers including The Sydney Morning Herald. The figures do not … (include) unsolicited text messages to 5.4 million Australians … (which are) relatively “cheap”.
Cheap and hard to escape. Lucy Sweeney, ABC News, January 17:
One recipient (of Palmer’s text messages said) … “It’s a pretty random text, I thought it was from my dentist or something … but when I got to the end of it I realised it was from good old Clive Palmer.” Her main gripe was that … there was no option … to … opt out from receiving messages … “I’ve tried to block it but it can’t be done.”
Who’s not gonna take it? Sydney’s Radio 2GB, January 8:
The musical spat between Clive Palmer and US rock band (Twisted Sister) over the use of their hit 80s song (We’re Not Gonna Take It) has escalated … Twisted Sister frontman Dee Snider says (Palmer) is ignoring a cease-and-desist order after allegedly using the band’s 1980s hit … in his television ad … But Mr Palmer says the song is a “rip-off” of the Christmas carol O Come, All Ye Faithful. “You couldn’t make this stuff up!” says (2GB’s) Ross Greenwood … (Palmer wants) Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton to cancel the frontman’s visa ahead of his … Australian tour.
A humble merchant? Molloy, news.com.au, January 15:
Yesterday, (Palmer) launched a bizarre mobile phone game titled Humble Meme Merchant that … included a takeoff of Culture Club hit Karma Chameleon.
Palmer Chameleon. Matthew Doran, ABC News, January 15:
Pop icon Boy George’s manager is “horrified” … Palmer would rip off (Karma Chameleon, changing the lyrics) to “Palmer Chameleon”.
Natalie Bochenski, The Sydney Morning Herald, June 4, 2015:
(Barry) Humphries said … modern politicians seemed to be outdoing (his) bawdy cultural attache. “When Les first appeared (in the 1970s) there was much criticism that he was doing a disservice to Australia’s image, and yet since (then many politicians are) far more flamboyant … Les is like a … nursery version of Clive Palmer.”