Clive Palmer refuses to release details of agreement with Motoring Enthusiast Ricky Muir

Updated

Clive Palmer is refusing to release the details of the agreement he signed with Australian Motoring Enthusiast senator-elect Ricky Muir to form a powerful voting bloc in the Senate.

Mr Palmer yesterday revealed he had struck a deal with the senator-elect from Victoria to work together in the Upper House.

He said a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) would provide certainty for how the two parties would work together "to ensure that there's a smooth cooperation with the Government, that bills can be passed with positive outcomes".

The Greens and independent senator Nick Xenophon want Mr Palmer to make the MOU public, saying voters deserve to know what the parties have agreed to.

But Mr Palmer has rejected the calls.

"Why should we?" he told Fairfax Radio this morning.

"This is an arrangement between two people, two parties, two organisations, and it's got a provision that the terms remain confidential.

"It's quite normal in most agreements that they're not released to people.

Underestimate Clive Palmer at your peril

Clive Palmer, who made headlines for putting dinosaurs at his Coolum resort and rebuilding the Titanic, is a skilful media operator who politicians underestimate at their peril, observers say. Clive Palmer, who made headlines for putting dinosaurs at his Coolum resort and rebuilding the Titanic, is a skilful media operator who politicians underestimate at their peril, observers say. Australian Story reports

"I've never seen a case where the Greens' agreement with other parties, Brian Harradine, were released.

"There's no precedent."

Labor's arrangements with the Greens and crossbenchers were made available after the 2010 election.

With the Palmer United Party (PUP) set to control a bloc of four votes in Senate, Mr Palmer will be in a powerful position come July next year.

The Coalition will have 33 votes when the Senate changes over, which means it will need another six to pass legislation if Labor and the Greens try to block it.

Xenophon says voting bloc is uncharted territory

PUP policies explained

Take a moment to get to know what the Palmer United Party supports:



Achieve budget surplus through cutting taxes and resulting boost in economic "stimulation"

Reduce personal income tax by 15 per cent for all Australians

Increase pension by $150 a fortnight

Inject $80 billion into health funding that bypasses states

Free tertiary education for all Australians

12 months parental leave and $50,000 for primary care giver

Conscience vote on same-sex marriage

Read about more policies and details in our explainer



Photo: AFP Take a moment to get to know what the Palmer United Party supports:Photo: AFP

Senator Xenophon spent six years sharing the balance of power and has described the new Palmer United Party bloc as uncharted territory.

"[Mr Palmer] has funded their campaigns," he told ABC Local Radio in Melbourne.

"They are clearly beholden to Clive Palmer; presumably if they're not on his payroll, they have a close commercial relationship with him.

"I'd be interested to find out from Ricky Muir, and I'm sure he'll tell you eventually, whether there is any arrangement.

"I'm not suggesting there is."

Democratic Labor senator for Victoria John Madigan has also voiced his concerns about the alliance, saying it does not look like the Motoring Enthusiast Party will have much of a say.

"I watched the press conference yesterday, it was all Palmer United Party in the back drop," he said.

"There was no mention of the Australian Motoring Enthusiast Party.

"I feel sorry for people who were part of the AME in Victoria, the people who helped get Ricky Muir elected."

Party tension already appearing

Mr Muir is not due to join the Senate until next July but there are already signs of tension within his party.

Motoring Enthusiast member Peter Kaz is critical of the deal Mr Muir has signed and suggested secret negotiations had been underway for some time.

Sorry, this video has expired Video: Antony Green speaks with ABC News Breakfast (ABC News)

"Anybody that deals with legal processes understands that these things do not happen overnight," he said.

Mr Muir's former campaign director, Scott McDonald, has told Fairfax that Victorian members are angry at not being consulted on the deal.

He expressed doubt that Mr Muir will serve his full six-year term.

One member has told the ABC there are moves to throw Mr Muir out of the party, with a meeting scheduled for next week to discuss the issue.

But ABC election analyst Antony Green says that will have no impact on his Senate spot.

"They can kick him out of the party, they can do nothing about removing him from the Senate," he said.

"He's elected as an individual, his name is listed on the certificate of election, he's entitled to take his seat from July 1 whatever his party status.

"The only way he can depart the Senate is by death or by voluntary resignation."

Mr Muir has not given any indication that he plans to leave the AMEP.

Palmer demands more resources for senators

With the Palmer United Party now sharing the balance of power, Mr Palmer is threatening to hold up legislation unless his party is given more resources.

"The wave of bills coming from the House of Representatives is so great that our senators will need more resources to properly understand them," he said.

"If they don't know what [a bill] says, they can't vote for it, so they do need people to help them with it."

Prime Minister Tony Abbott yesterday said the Palmer United Party would be given the standard level of staffing afforded to minor parties.

Mr Palmer says he has not spoken to Mr Abbott about the issue and denies he is setting out to deliberately frustrate the Senate process.

"It's up to [Mr Abbott] as to what level he wants the Senate to function at," Mr Palmer said.

Topics: federal-government, federal-elections, clive-palmer, government-and-politics, melbourne-3000, vic, coolum-beach-4573, qld, australia

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