This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/sep/17/clive-palmer-questions-conflict-interest
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Clive Palmer's wealth can't sweep away legitimate conflict-of-interest questions | Clive Palmer's wealth can't sweep away legitimate conflict-of-interest questions |
| (about 17 hours later) | |
| Clive Palmer argues it is impossible to have a conflict of interest if you are already so rich you have everything you need. It's a convenient argument from his perspective, but also patently untrue. | Clive Palmer argues it is impossible to have a conflict of interest if you are already so rich you have everything you need. It's a convenient argument from his perspective, but also patently untrue. |
| The new Abbott government also seems to think there are no conflict-of-interest problems associated with the political ascent of Clive. Really? | The new Abbott government also seems to think there are no conflict-of-interest problems associated with the political ascent of Clive. Really? |
| The mining billionaire, dinosaur golf course owner and would-be builder of the new Titanic is now also likely to be the federal member for the lower house seat of Fairfax, and controls a party that seems certain to have one, and maybe two, balance-of-power votes in the new Senate from next July. | The mining billionaire, dinosaur golf course owner and would-be builder of the new Titanic is now also likely to be the federal member for the lower house seat of Fairfax, and controls a party that seems certain to have one, and maybe two, balance-of-power votes in the new Senate from next July. |
| Those are two balance-of-power votes that could be crucial to every law the Abbott government wants to pass – the same government that will decide whether Palmer's $6.4bn Galilee coal project meets federal environmental standards, what it will be required to do to meet new environmental provisions that require a federal assessment of the water impacts of large coal mines and, eventually, whether Palmer ever gets to build a new coal port at Abbot Point, north Queensland. | Those are two balance-of-power votes that could be crucial to every law the Abbott government wants to pass – the same government that will decide whether Palmer's $6.4bn Galilee coal project meets federal environmental standards, what it will be required to do to meet new environmental provisions that require a federal assessment of the water impacts of large coal mines and, eventually, whether Palmer ever gets to build a new coal port at Abbot Point, north Queensland. |
| They are also two balance-of-power votes that could be cast on any attempt by the Abbott government to water down existing environmental laws to make good the Coalition's promise of a "one-stop shop" with state governments for environmental approval of big projects – such as Clive's. And two votes on any future push by the Coalition to reverse Labor's last-minute crackdown on 457 visas, which put more onerous requirements on employers – such as Clive. And two votes in favour of the repeal of the mining tax, which would mean Clive wouldn't have to pay it. | They are also two balance-of-power votes that could be cast on any attempt by the Abbott government to water down existing environmental laws to make good the Coalition's promise of a "one-stop shop" with state governments for environmental approval of big projects – such as Clive's. And two votes on any future push by the Coalition to reverse Labor's last-minute crackdown on 457 visas, which put more onerous requirements on employers – such as Clive. And two votes in favour of the repeal of the mining tax, which would mean Clive wouldn't have to pay it. |
| The potential for a conflict of interest seems self-evident, but on the ABC's Q&A on Monday night he laughed off the notion with claims that he belonged to a disadvantaged minority – billionaires. He seemed to agree that he would at least fill out the parliamentary register of pecuniary interests, but it was hard to be sure. | The potential for a conflict of interest seems self-evident, but on the ABC's Q&A on Monday night he laughed off the notion with claims that he belonged to a disadvantaged minority – billionaires. He seemed to agree that he would at least fill out the parliamentary register of pecuniary interests, but it was hard to be sure. |
| Interviewed during Channel Seven's election-night coverage, Palmer rejected the whole idea and said he had no intention of divesting himself of anything. | Interviewed during Channel Seven's election-night coverage, Palmer rejected the whole idea and said he had no intention of divesting himself of anything. |
| Pressed by Mark Riley, he explained why in his view there was no problem. | Pressed by Mark Riley, he explained why in his view there was no problem. |
| "Mate, I've got more money than you could ever dream of, what's the conflict of interest? I want to get ideas going, you know … how much money could I get out of the government? You don't need to judge people by how much money they've got, it's the content of their character that matters," he replied. | "Mate, I've got more money than you could ever dream of, what's the conflict of interest? I want to get ideas going, you know … how much money could I get out of the government? You don't need to judge people by how much money they've got, it's the content of their character that matters," he replied. |
| Riley pressed on: "Don't you have to judge a public official though, Clive, by the interest they have and the potential they have to make more money by having influence on the political process?" | Riley pressed on: "Don't you have to judge a public official though, Clive, by the interest they have and the potential they have to make more money by having influence on the political process?" |
| Clive was having none of it: "That's only if you live your life based upon the idea money is all you need. I can tell you now you can only sleep in one bed, have one meal at a time and, if you are lucky, go out with one woman at a time." | Clive was having none of it: "That's only if you live your life based upon the idea money is all you need. I can tell you now you can only sleep in one bed, have one meal at a time and, if you are lucky, go out with one woman at a time." |
| The truth is Palmer's power in this parliament poses some new questions. He is obviously not in the same category as a minister, which would require him to divest himself of everything. | The truth is Palmer's power in this parliament poses some new questions. He is obviously not in the same category as a minister, which would require him to divest himself of everything. |
| Julia Gillard's most recent ministerial guidelines included these provisions: | Julia Gillard's most recent ministerial guidelines included these provisions: |
| • In recognition of the collective responsibility that ministers bear in relation to cabinet decisions, these standards require that ministers divest themselves of investments and other interests in any public or private company or business, other than public superannuation funds or publicly listed managed funds or trust arrangements. | • In recognition of the collective responsibility that ministers bear in relation to cabinet decisions, these standards require that ministers divest themselves of investments and other interests in any public or private company or business, other than public superannuation funds or publicly listed managed funds or trust arrangements. |
| • Except with the express approval of the prime minister, ministers will resign or decline directorships of public or private companies and businesses on taking up office as a minister. Approval to retain a directorship of a private company or business will be granted only if the prime minister is satisfied, on the advice of the secretary of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, that no conflict of interest is likely to arise. | • Except with the express approval of the prime minister, ministers will resign or decline directorships of public or private companies and businesses on taking up office as a minister. Approval to retain a directorship of a private company or business will be granted only if the prime minister is satisfied, on the advice of the secretary of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, that no conflict of interest is likely to arise. |
| • Ministers must bear in mind that their private interests can give rise to perceptions of conflicts of interests that might contaminate not just their own decisions but also the decisions of the cabinet to which they are a party. Ministers must therefore ensure that they declare any private interests held by them or members of their families which give rise to, or are likely to give rise to, a conflict with their public duties. | • Ministers must bear in mind that their private interests can give rise to perceptions of conflicts of interests that might contaminate not just their own decisions but also the decisions of the cabinet to which they are a party. Ministers must therefore ensure that they declare any private interests held by them or members of their families which give rise to, or are likely to give rise to, a conflict with their public duties. |
| But nor is Palmer in anything like the same position as other backbenchers, who declare their personal assets and shareholdings on the register and then, almost always, proceed to vote along party lines and therefore have no personal discretion to determine the outcome of anything or to benefit their personal interests. | But nor is Palmer in anything like the same position as other backbenchers, who declare their personal assets and shareholdings on the register and then, almost always, proceed to vote along party lines and therefore have no personal discretion to determine the outcome of anything or to benefit their personal interests. |
| Asked about the situation at his first press conference on Monday, Abbott said Palmer would be subject only to the same rules as backbenchers, but that he was preparing "slightly tougher" ministerial guidelines for his own frontbench team. | Asked about the situation at his first press conference on Monday, Abbott said Palmer would be subject only to the same rules as backbenchers, but that he was preparing "slightly tougher" ministerial guidelines for his own frontbench team. |
| And Palmer's own lack of concern stands in contrast with the fact that a dispute over conflict of interest was the cause of his original falling out with the Liberal party, and still makes him so mad he has said he will try to implement new laws about it. | And Palmer's own lack of concern stands in contrast with the fact that a dispute over conflict of interest was the cause of his original falling out with the Liberal party, and still makes him so mad he has said he will try to implement new laws about it. |
| Palmer, a long-term generous donor to the Liberal National party in Queensland, was furious when Aurizon (formerly Queensland Rail) did a deal with GVK, a rival Indian company in partnership with Gina Rinehart, on a train line from the Galilee Basin to the Abbot Point port, rather than with him. | Palmer, a long-term generous donor to the Liberal National party in Queensland, was furious when Aurizon (formerly Queensland Rail) did a deal with GVK, a rival Indian company in partnership with Gina Rinehart, on a train line from the Galilee Basin to the Abbot Point port, rather than with him. |
| He connected the unfavourable decision with the influence of the Liberal powerbroker and federal vice-president Santo Santoro, also an Aurizon lobbyist. | He connected the unfavourable decision with the influence of the Liberal powerbroker and federal vice-president Santo Santoro, also an Aurizon lobbyist. |
| That kind of conflict of interest he sees as so insidious that lobbyists should be banned from holding positions as political party office holders. | That kind of conflict of interest he sees as so insidious that lobbyists should be banned from holding positions as political party office holders. |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. | Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. |
Previous version
1
Next version