Clive Palmer storms out of interview after questions over legal battle, PUP senator Jacqui Lambie contemplates split

Updated

Palmer United Party (PUP) leader Clive Palmer has abruptly ended a television interview that questioned him on his deteriorating relationship with party colleague Jacqui Lambie and his legal battle with the Chinese government.

On the ABC's Lateline program, the mining magnate and federal MP was asked about an upcoming civil case being brought against him by the Chinese government-owned investment group Citic Pacific.

Mr Palmer told Lateline host Emma Alberici the claims made against him were not true, and said he did not want to talk about them.

"Look I'm not interested," he said.

Alberici persisted with her line of questioning, saying: "Well, our viewers may well be interested."

"Well I'm not interested in it," Mr Palmer replied.

Alberici said: "You're a public figure Mr Palmer - the audience has a right to know."

At that point, Mr Palmer removed his earpiece and said: "Good night. Well see you. Goodbye. See you later."

Palmer wants Lambie 'on board'

Mr Palmer said he would like to see his outspoken colleague, Senator Lambie, remain in his party despite their recent public spat.

Relations between the pair have deteriorated in recent weeks over Senator Lambie's hardline stance on improving the pay deal for defence force personnel.

Mr Palmer told Lateline the PUP spent considerable resources helping to get Senator Lambie elected and he would like to see her stay with the team.

'We spent something like $600,000-700,000 in Tasmania in the last federal election to make sure that we'd get our senator elected," he said.

"Our party members worked very hard for Jacqui and I know she got 22,000 votes above the line from the PUP party and 1,500 below the line so I think she's a team player."

This week, Senator Lambie broke away from the PUP in the Senate on a number of votes, including supporting Labor and the Greens to strike out the Government's Future of Financial Advice (FOFA) changes.

The feud between her and Mr Palmer intensified early on Wednesday when Senator Lambie was removed as deputy senate leader and deputy whip of the party.

Senator Lambie was returning to Tasmania to seek advice on whether to permanently split from the PUP.

"I just want to see what direction, if I was to breakaway or whether I stay, I just want to get advice and make sure that I have every area covered," she told reporters outside Parliament yesterday.

"Obviously I'm seeking parliamentary and legal advice as well, and just making sure that if I was to leave, that it is all done in a respectful manner and I can continue, then, to get on with the job."

She has indicated she could make a decision on her future early next week.

Topics: government-and-politics, political-parties, law-crime-and-justice, australia

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