Iraq should help fund Australia's military actions against Islamic State, PUP leader Clive Palmer says

Updated

Iraq should help pay for Australian military advisers and fighter jets battling Islamic State militants in the Middle East, the Palmer United Party (PUP) says.

The Government has estimated the deployment of up to 10 planes and 600 personnel will cost $500 million a year.

PUP leader Clive Palmer said several Middle East countries could afford to help fund Australia's involvement.

"Well if they've requested that support ... then why not?" Mr Palmer told PM.

"They've got large oil supplies, [they are] getting a lot of foreign currency, and they've requested the support of Australia – I'm sure they could contribute."

Outspoken PUP senator Jacqui Lambie said Australian taxpayers should not have to pay for the conflict.

"Why should the Australian public have to pay for another fight in the Middle East?" she said.

Palmer plays down divisions within PUP

Meanwhile, Mr Palmer played down the significance of last week's resignation of the party's only sitting Queensland MP, Carl Judge.

He said a recent poll conducted for The Sunday Mail and Channel 7, which suggested support for PUP had slipped in the state, was "rubbish".

"Our polls show the opposite," he said.

"The reason they publish those things is because they're biased and they're supporting Campbell Newman.

"They don't like having honest people in politics."

Mr Palmer became irate when asked about comments he made about China during his appearance on the ABC's Q&A program and about the country's recent decision to put new tariffs on coal.

During his appearance, Mr Palmer referred to the Chinese government as "bastards" and "mongrels" who "shoot their own people".

"Well I'm not interested in answering about my business, sorry," Mr Palmer said.

"You're really trying to scrape the barrel. I'm not in business, I'm retired. Goodbye."

Topics: clive-palmer, unrest-conflict-and-war, defence-forces, government-and-politics, federal-government, australia

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