Newman Lies in Defamation Defence

Media release

The federal leader of the Palmer United Party and Member for Fairfax, Clive Palmer, has supported calls from broadcaster Alan Jones for a Royal Commission into the activities of the Queensland government.

Mr Palmer, who is suing Queensland Premier Campbell Newman for defamation, today strongly denied claims made by Mr Newman that he tried to use donations to the LNP for favourable treatment for his business interests.

“Campbell Newman is simply telling untruths or he has been told lies by Deputy Premier Jeff Seeney and is using them to try and defend the defamation action,” Mr Palmer said.

“This is nothing more than a desperate attempt by desperate people to discredit me and it’s interesting they have released material lodged with the Supreme Court to The Australian newspaper who they know will sensationalise the story.

“If I had done anything wrong the Premier should have reported me to the CMC or to the police, but that didn’t happen and it hasn’t happened over the last two years.

“The last donation that was made by myself or any of my companies to the LNP was in late 2010. I have no knowledge of how that donation was spent. The last state election wasn’t until March, 2012.”

Mr Palmer said Alan Jones has been quite justified in raising serious allegations about the Newman government, including the role of the head of the Department of Premier and Cabinet, Jon Grayson, in establishing Australian Water Holdings in Queensland.

Mr Jones has told his audience on Macquarie Radio that the CMC was being “emasculated” by the Newman government and that the government’s activities were “Royal Commission territory”.

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