Campbell Newman a 'Nazi': Clive Palmer

Date

July 7, 2014 - 12:19PM

Clive Palmer has labelled Campbell Newman a “Nazi”, a “criminal”, less popular than Hitler, and a “demagogue” in yet another public attack against the Queensland Premier.

Mr Newman, fresh from holidays, attempted to laugh it off.

“I think his comments, well, people will make what they will of them,” he said.

Mr Palmer launched straight into his attack as he entered Parliament House in Canberra with his senators on Monday morning, after an interview with the ABC where he called Mr Newman a “Nazi”.

He showed no remorse.

“He is a Nazi, of course he is a Nazi, he wants the Gestapo,” Mr Palmer said.

“Look at his popularity, he is just below Hitler when he got elected.”

Deputy Premier Jeff Seeney, who himself is no stranger to verbal combat with Mr Palmer, also tried to shrug off the comments.

“We’ve come to expect that of Clive Palmer,” he said.

“Litigation is Clive Palmer’s hobby, it is not ours. Getting Queensland back on track is what we’re about.”

Mr Palmer and the Queensland government have waged a very public war against each other since the mining magnate quit the Liberal National Party in spectacular fashion in November 2012.

The government said it was forced to stand its ground when Mr Palmer asked for favoured treatment.

In response, Mr Palmer accused the government of being corrupt and started his own political party, which has since become a growing force, with Mr Palmer winning the federal seat of Fairfax from the LNP and three Senate spots.

Palmer United also holds two seats in the Queensland parliament after former LNP MPs Carl Judge and Alex Douglas defected to the party.

But the growing popularity of Mr Palmer and his party has only inflamed tensions between senior government members and the man who wants to bring back the Titanic.

After a policy of 'no comment' in response to Palmer questions, Mr Newman broke the floodgates accusing Mr Palmer of attempting to buy his government.

He reiterated the comments several times after and Mr Palmer launched legal action. He added Deputy Premier Jeff Seeney to his litigation list last month, accusing both senior ministers of defaming him.

Mr Seeney turned over documents relating to his office's dealings with Mr Palmer to the Crime and Corruption Commission, asking it to review the files, but did not make an official complaint.

With the Palmer Party continuing to grow in popularity in Queensland and polls showing it is picking up voters disenfranchised with the LNP government, the animosity between the Mr Palmer and the government shows no signs of simmering down.

While Mr Newman has demurred from commenting as strongly on Mr Palmer has he has in the past, Mr Palmer shows no signs of slowing down.

“I am the only political leader in Queensland standing up to the Queensland Premier as he puts people in jail, as he abuses their rights, as he backdates legislation to get his mates off and he takes corrupt payments from people,” Mr Palmer said.

“He hasn’t sued me, I am suing him, he is going before the Supreme Court, so is Mr Seeney, they don’t like it, they want to abuse their power further and create Queensland as a police state.”