BILLIONAIRE MP Clive Palmer is firming as a major force in Queensland politics.

An exclusive poll conducted for the Sunday Mail and 7 News showed the Fairfax MP’s fledgling Palmer United Party would attract more than 13 per cent of the first preference vote if a state election were held today, storming into third place behind the LNP and Labor.

Mr Palmer, who is embroiled in a bitter public brawl with the Newman Government, has two MPs in Queensland Parliament who defected from the LNP, Dr Alex Douglas and Carl Judge.

But his party is yet to face the ultimate electoral test on a state level in Queensland to have candidates elected in their own right under his banner.

The ReachTEL poll of more than 1800 Queenslanders, conducted on Thursday night after another day of brawling between Mr Palmer and the Government and two days after the State Budget, found PUP would take 13.6 per cent of the first preference vote, behind the LNP’s 40.9 per cent and Labor’s 34 per cent.

About 5 per cent of respondents said the Greens would get their first preference while the Katter party, which has three MPs in State Parliament including two elected under the party banner in 2012, was relegated to the “other” category which only attracted 6.3 per cent of first preferences.

It is the first time PUP has polled in the teens and state leader Dr Alex Douglas said it showed Government attacks on Mr Palmer had backfired.

“When you are attacking what Clive is saying, I think you are attacking the wider public,” Dr Douglas said. “He is reflecting what everybody else thinks.

“This can only end very badly and it will not end badly for Clive Palmer. It will drive public support further in favour of Clive Palmer.” Treasurer Tim Nicholls said the Government was just highlighting what it alleges is Mr Palmer’s self-interest.

“It’s really important people do understand exactly what it is that Clive Palmer does, how he operates his businesses and how he operates his political party,” Mr Nicholls said.

“Clive Palmer is inevitably, in all of these instances, in it for Clive Palmer, not for the people of either Fairfax or the people of Australia.”

Mr Palmer declined to comment on the poll yesterday but issued a statement taking a swipe at Deputy Premier Jeff Seeney who referred Mr Palmer to the Crime and Misconduct Commission on Friday over allegations he demanded special treatment from the Government for his mining interest during a meeting in 2012.

Mr Palmer said Mr Seeney’s allegations were false and called on him to resign.