Clive Palmer mingles at the Fairfax festival weekend at Palmer Coolum Resort. Credit:Harrison Saragossi A tsunami of selfies to rival a Kevin Rudd re-election campaign was triggered each time Mr Palmer cut through the swathes of people enjoying the free entertainment. "I'm not seeking people's votes, I'm just trying to do the best I can for them," he said when a journalist questioned him whether it was a vote buying exercise. "It's not about power really, it's about serving the community and doing what you think is right." It's been a week of surprises from the climate change sceptic who, with the world's most recognisable advocate for climate change action former US Vice President Al Gore by his side, unexpectedly emerged as an ally to the left.

Clive Palmer holds a press conference at his Fairfax Festival. Credit:Harrison Saragossi The leader of the Palmer United Party announced his trio of senators would support the repeal of Labor's controversial carbon tax, though unexpectedly announced they would move to legislate an emissions trading scheme that would swing into action when Australia's major trading partners adopted similar measures. "Australia has less than one per cent of the total share of world carbon, we delude ourselves if we think we are going to change the world," he said on Saturday. Clive Palmer mingles at the Fairfax festival weekend at Palmer Coolum Resort. Credit:Clive palmer mingles at the Fairfax festival weekend at Palmer coolum resort.28th of June 2014. Photo: Harrison Saragossi "What we can do is set up a framework that leads the world."

He also announced his senators would block the government's plans to scrap the Clean Energy Finance Corporation and potentially wind back the Renewable Energy Target. On Saturday he reasoned the CEFC was a "profitable company", while Prime Minister Tony Abbott should seek endorsement of plans to wind back the RET at the next election. "If there is to be a review there's plenty of time to change after next election," he said. "The Australian people have a right to know." Mr Palmer also detailed plans to block the $7 Medicare co-payment, saying it punished pensioners.

"It's hard enough as it is for people. Australia you've got to remember has the third lowest debt in the OECD, there's only 30 countries in the world with AAA credit rating," he said. "People are going to suffer and get hurt if we don't stand at the gate to protect them." However the mining magnate, whose regular front page media forays have led many to question his motives or dismiss him as a political sideshow, denied he was seeking to position himself as an alternative opposition leader. "I've got no political ambition at all," said the man who ran his 2013 election campaign touting himself as Australia's next Prime Minister. "I just want to do the right thing for the people while I'm there.

"Vice President Gore flew to Canberra to see me because he was impressed about our ideas and what we wanted to do for our people. "He didn't come and see Bill Shorten, he didn't come and see Tony Abbot, he didn't go to the House of Reps and he didn't go to the Senate. "He knew, like I did, the most important bit." The controversial and increasingly powerful political figure, who recently donated his parliamentary salary to charity, also played down his personal influence, despite his party's Senate presence. "I don't see that I've got any power really," he said.

"I'm just a single memeber of the House of Representatives."