In the realm of federal politics, he has been fighting the Gillard government in a running battle that most recently spilt over into threats of a High Court challenge to the carbon tax. On the media front, he has been wooing the nation's newspaper publishers with talk of a trust fund to sustain Australian journalism. And in the world of sport, he has been battling the nation's soccer establishment over the demise of his Gold Coast club - and taunting it with the prospect of a breakaway league and his own inquiry into the sport's troubles. His expanding celebrity has this month even secured him a place on the National Trust's list of ''living treasures''. ''I haven't gone seeking media support, I haven't gone out there advertising anywhere,'' says Palmer when asked why his public profile has expanded so exponentially in recent weeks.

Rather, he surmises, his new-found omnipresence is due to a confluence of events - and his own commitment to free speech and vigorous debate. Palmer has never stepped away from vigorous debate but - unlike his comrade in mining billions, Gina Rinehart - he has long enjoyed a close professional relationship with the media. Though his fortune was made in real estate and mining, he worked as the Nationals' official spokesman in the mid-1980s and previously described his father, George, who advised prime minister Joseph Lyons on media matters, as one of the nation's ''first spin doctors''. To this day, despite an enormous business empire that takes in iron ore, coal, nickel, hotels and sporting interests, Palmer is generous towards the media with time and opinions, answering his mobile phone more often than not. Perhaps some of the responsibility for this week's Palmer blitz rests with the media, which have learnt that a call to Palmer is a good bet in the search for a quotable quote. ''When you deal with the media you are dealing with perception; when you are dealing in business you are dealing with reality,'' Palmer says, in a rare moment of clarity beyond the hubris. In any event, he is confident his running battles pose no danger to his business interests, despite the fact he is now rivalling fellow mining tycoon Andrew ''Twiggy'' Forrest as the Labor government's public enemy No. 1.

It is not as if, after years of donating money to the conservative side of politics, he was ever likely to make friends with the likes of Wayne Swan and Julia Gillard. However, Palmer does have close business links with Chinese groups that are not used to a culture of open conflict with government. Indeed, many of his most important business partners are Chinese state-owned enterprises, which, he maintains, are unconcerned by his steady supply of public opinions. Business being business. ''I don't think it worries them to be honest,'' he says. ''They've known me for 30 or 40 years. ''I don't think the Chinese deal with me out of the benevolence of their heart; they've got commodities that they want and that's the basis of our business relationship. Contrary to popular opinion, people don't deal with you out of benevolence.''

Many of Palmer's public admonishments of the Gillard government have been attuned to the Chinese cause. He lambasted the Prime Minister for risking relations with China over the stationing of US troops in Darwin and has branded Australia's Foreign Investment Review Board ''racist'' for the elevated level of scrutiny it applies towards Chinese investment in this country. But while many of his interventions directly relate to his business interests - he says the carbon tax crusade is based on concern for the jobs of workers at his nickel business - you sense that occasionally he throws out an opinion for the sheer fun of it. Look no further than his recent musings on buying into Fairfax Media - owner of this newspaper - which most analysts expect to be little more than bluster. For a man of Palmer's wealth, there are rarely any consequences attached to firing off an opinion. New enemies can simply join the back of the line and, with his publicly voted ''national living treasure'' award in his back pocket, Palmer is confident that the line of admirers - and of charities grateful for his donations - is much longer. ''It's no pressure on me, even though it might seem a lot,'' he says of the public debates that seem to be tracking his orbit.

''There is a general political correctness in this country and everyone has been so comfortable for so long that they haven't actually challenged themselves.'' That said, Palmer is now fighting battles on so many fronts that many wonder if he will be able to back up all his recent big words with actions. He insists the soccer inquiry he conceived - but won't be overseeing - will be taking its first submissions from the public soon; while the carbon tax challenge is ''pretty definite'' to go ahead, subject to further legal advice next week. But when asked which of those many issues is most important to him, it is freedom of speech that Palmer singles out. ''People have really got to value their freedom of speech, whatever your view may be, whether it's popular or unpopular, don't be frightened of it because diversity of speech gives us a rich national character,'' he says.

''We may not be right when we are saying something but it might lead us to the right answer for the nation, so we shouldn't give up on debate, that's the essence of our democracy.'' Rest assured, Palmer won't be giving up on debate any time soon.