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Bob Katter v Clive Palmer: debate or doom merchant convention? Bob Katter v Clive Palmer: debate or doom merchant convention?
(25 days later)
Clive Palmer lamented that a prerequisite to becoming the leader of a major political party in Australia was to be “absolutely hopeless”, while Bob Katter constantly referred to “another good point made by Clive”, in what was touted as a political debate but turned into rather more of a joint press conference.Clive Palmer lamented that a prerequisite to becoming the leader of a major political party in Australia was to be “absolutely hopeless”, while Bob Katter constantly referred to “another good point made by Clive”, in what was touted as a political debate but turned into rather more of a joint press conference.
The leaders of Katter’s Australia Party and Palmer United Party met at the National Press Club in Canberra on Monday morning and the minor political parties’ campaign sideshow debate quickly evolved into a list of things they agreed on.The leaders of Katter’s Australia Party and Palmer United Party met at the National Press Club in Canberra on Monday morning and the minor political parties’ campaign sideshow debate quickly evolved into a list of things they agreed on.
That the major parties and their leaders do not really care about Australia. Check.That the major parties and their leaders do not really care about Australia. Check.
That neither of them will commit to a public stance on social issues such as same sex marriage. Check.That neither of them will commit to a public stance on social issues such as same sex marriage. Check.
That the country will be destroyed within 10 years if the minor parties are not given a chance. Check.That the country will be destroyed within 10 years if the minor parties are not given a chance. Check.
When asked about their actual prospects in the Senate and House of Representatives, both became coy.When asked about their actual prospects in the Senate and House of Representatives, both became coy.
Palmer maintains he will win a slew of seats in the lower house and will not entertain any other (more likely) prospects, but Katter used the question to highlight what could have been between him and Tony Windsor, saying they could have introduced ethanol to Australia.Palmer maintains he will win a slew of seats in the lower house and will not entertain any other (more likely) prospects, but Katter used the question to highlight what could have been between him and Tony Windsor, saying they could have introduced ethanol to Australia.
When it came to any future parliament: “I know how to play this game and we will play with a certain amount of ruthlessness, to be quite frank,” Katter said.When it came to any future parliament: “I know how to play this game and we will play with a certain amount of ruthlessness, to be quite frank,” Katter said.
When Palmer was confronted with the question about how he would use the influence of a Senate seat or maybe a couple of House of Representatives seats he stuck to his old lines: “We will win seats and we are offering people policies which are different and for the future, and I think Australians are hungry for ideas.”When Palmer was confronted with the question about how he would use the influence of a Senate seat or maybe a couple of House of Representatives seats he stuck to his old lines: “We will win seats and we are offering people policies which are different and for the future, and I think Australians are hungry for ideas.”
Both hailing from Queensland and both former National party men – Katter served as a minister in the 1980s under premier Joh Bjelke-Petersen while Palmer was the party’s spokesman for a brief period at about the same time – the pair share a penchant for grand and sweeping statements of doom.Both hailing from Queensland and both former National party men – Katter served as a minister in the 1980s under premier Joh Bjelke-Petersen while Palmer was the party’s spokesman for a brief period at about the same time – the pair share a penchant for grand and sweeping statements of doom.
“Do you want to live in a country with no manufacturing or ability to feed itself?” Katter asked at one point, while Palmer repeated his lines from the campaign launch the day before about Australians being taxed into oblivion and the economy “shrinking to the size of a pea”.“Do you want to live in a country with no manufacturing or ability to feed itself?” Katter asked at one point, while Palmer repeated his lines from the campaign launch the day before about Australians being taxed into oblivion and the economy “shrinking to the size of a pea”.
“You belong to a vanishing race,” Katter declared ominously towards the end of his opening statement, gesturing to the audience.“You belong to a vanishing race,” Katter declared ominously towards the end of his opening statement, gesturing to the audience.
The only time the pair seemed to become competitive was when telling stories about how much Australia has been crying out for them.The only time the pair seemed to become competitive was when telling stories about how much Australia has been crying out for them.
Katter told the audience how young blokes – and it is always young blokes, he mused – come up to him and punch him in the chest, saying “Australia mate” to illustrate his point about the need for tariffs to be introduced.Katter told the audience how young blokes – and it is always young blokes, he mused – come up to him and punch him in the chest, saying “Australia mate” to illustrate his point about the need for tariffs to be introduced.
Meanwhile, Palmer opined that people did not know the extent of suffering in Australia because journalists were too busy being sacked by Rupert Murdoch and rewriting press releases to do any investigative work.Meanwhile, Palmer opined that people did not know the extent of suffering in Australia because journalists were too busy being sacked by Rupert Murdoch and rewriting press releases to do any investigative work.
Towards the end Katter lost all pretence that he was arguing with Palmer.Towards the end Katter lost all pretence that he was arguing with Palmer.
“Give Clive and myself and the other small parties a break, give us a break, because if you don’t you will break your country,” he pleaded.“Give Clive and myself and the other small parties a break, give us a break, because if you don’t you will break your country,” he pleaded.
“… Give us a go.”“… Give us a go.”
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