"Murdoch will be sued by me today and will be brought to Australia to answer these questions in the Supreme Court," he told the Seven Network’s Sunrise program on Thursday. Clive Palmer. Credit:Glenn Hunt "It’s time this fellow was brought to account, this foreigner who tries to dictate what we do." Mr Palmer was questioned about his fortune and business dealings, but said he never claimed to be a mining magnate and did not know whether he was a billionaire. ‘‘All I’ve said is I’m an Australian and I want to stand in the election,’’ he said.

While hitting the breakfast television circuit on Thursday, Mr Palmer also made accusations on the Nine Network’s Today show about Mr Murdoch’s estranged wife Wendi Deng. Rupert Murdoch and Wendi Deng. Credit:Getty Images ‘‘You know, Rupert Murdoch’s wife Wendi Deng is a Chinese spy, and that’s been right across the world,’’ Mr Palmer alleged. ‘‘She’s been spying on Rupert for years, giving money back to Chinese intelligence. Read the truth about it. ‘‘She was trained in southern China. I’m telling you the truth, I’m telling you the truth.’’

A stunned Today host Karl Stefanovic interrupted Mr Palmer, questioning whether he had ‘‘lost the plot’’. But Mr Palmer continued: ‘‘Wendy Deng is a Chinese spy, that’s why Rupert Murdoch got rid of her, and that’s the truth. ‘‘And this guy wants to control Australian politics. ‘‘He wants to control what you think.’’ If the latest polls are correct, Mr Palmer’s Palmer United Party could win the sixth Queensland senate seat.

Mr Palmer is also suing Mr Brough for more than $800,000 over the James Ashby affair. He is seeking $355,500 in general damages and $450,000 in aggravated compensation. Mr Palmer recently claimed Mr Brough asked him to fund a legal campaign that would destroy the reputation of his political rival Peter Slipper - the former House of Representatives speaker standing as an independent for Fisher. Mr Brough strenuously denied the allegation, saying "there has been inconsistency on this issue from day one from Mr Palmer". In his statement of claim, Mr Palmer said Mr Brough’s comments implied that he was a liar and lacked honesty and integrity.

Mr Ashby’s sexual harassment case against Mr Slipper was dismissed in the Federal Court in December last year, two months after Mr Slipper, a former Liberal National Party member, resigned as House of Representatives speaker following the publication of explicit text messages. The federal court ruled Mr Ashby was working with Mr Brough to damage Mr Slipper’s reputation. Loading Mr Brough and Mr Ashby have denied any wrongdoing. The federal court decision is subject to appeal. - with AAP