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Clive Palmer has blasted both leaders of Queensland’s major parties for destroying families and the state economy with their hard stance on borders.

His comments follow revelations today that Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington would not reopen the borders if elected.

“They’re as bad as each other. The leaders of the major parties are hopeless, they have rocks in their heads,’’ Mr Palmer said.

“Trust me, the borders will reopen by November after my High Court challenge is successful,’’ he said.

Mr Palmer said the best way for Queenslanders to send a message to the major parties was to vote with their feet and reject them on election day.

“Only Clive Palmer’s United Australia Party wants to open the borders up and switch the economy back on,’’ he said.

“There is no leadership with Labor and the LNP, they are devoid of ideas and only care about self-preservation.

“Queensland needs a new deal. The current Chief Health Officer is a Labor puppet with no logic or compassion.

“She lets the AFL and movie stars like Tom Hanks into Queensland but denies families from attending hospitals and funerals.

“She should resign, but she would miss her $600,000-plus annual salary too much.

“How much more damage to families and society will be caused by Queensland Labor’s irrational policies and decision making?” he said.

“The human costs of the border closures continue to mount with increased suicides and domestic violence spiralling out of control.

“Queenslanders will see this and vote for a new deal on election day,’’ Mr Palmer said.

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Leader of Clive Palmer’s United Australia Party, Greg Dowling, has put reducing North Queensland’s crime rate at the top of the agenda once voted in at the October 31 State Election.

The Townsville businessman and former rugby league great has vowed to put more police on the beat, beef up surveillance and offer better training for troubled youth, as a crucial part of his party’s new deal for Queensland.

“It’s time to get serious. We should be sending repeat offenders to working farms instead of giving them eight chances in court and then slapping them on the wrists,” Mr Dowling said.

“If elected I will also engage with organisations that re-educate young people with criminal convictions.

“It is important that young offenders don’t fall through the cracks. They need to learn lifelong skills for a better life.

“Proper skills and training is the key to meaningful jobs and livelihoods for themselves and their families. This will help break the cycle of generational crime,’’ Mr Dowling said.

“Clive Palmer’s United Australia Party will deliver an extra 100 police for North Queensland, and invest millions installing an additional 300 specialised CCTV cameras in the most vulnerable areas of our region,’’ he said.

“Crime in North Queensland continues to increase and the major parties are showing no leadership and have no plans to tackle the issues,’’ he said.

Mr Dowling said his new deal for Queensland would deliver more jobs and brighter future.

“If kids are working and are off the streets, there’s less chance of them breaking the law,’’ Mr Dowling said.

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Clive Palmer has slammed Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk for turning her back on job creation in Townsville.

“The Premier says she supports mineral development in Queensland, but not nickel,’’ Mr Palmer said.

“She is happy to create money for various other geographic segments of the state, but ignore Townsville.

“If the Queensland Labor government was serious about jobs it should allow Queensland Nickel access to the Port of Townsville.

“If the Palaszczuk Government really cared about a strong economic future for Queenslanders, there will be at least 2000 jobs with the reopening of Queensland Nickel.

Mr Palmer said Queensland Nickel was only seeking from the Port Authority the same terms and conditions for a new lease that had been successfully operating for 20 years previously.

“The Queensland Labor government refuses to allow access to the port it owns and controls while the people of North Queensland suffer,’’ Mr Palmer said.

“This government doesn’t care about the people it represents. It doesn’t care about the thousands of jobs that could be created and it doesn’t care about the businesses that are going under without the economic stimulus that the refinery would provide the region.

“Labor needs to exercise its authority to approve all terms and conditions to renew the port leases and create real jobs.

“The Premier is standing in the way of Townsville’s recovery,’’ Mr Palmer said.

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Deputy Leader of Clive Palmer’s United Australia Party, Anna Palmer, has challenged Annastacia Palaszczuk to a public debate ahead of the October 31 state election, to highlight the Queensland Premier’s lack of empathy for families.

“I will debate the Queensland Premier anywhere, anytime. Only Clive Palmer’s United Australia Party can end Labor’s destruction of family values,” Mrs Palmer said.

“I can’t believe that Labor and Queensland’s Chief Health Officer stopped a young girl from visiting her dying father and then refused to allow her to go to his funeral,’’ Mrs Palmer said.

“If that wasn’t bad enough, they also refused a pregnant woman medical treatment just because she came from New South Wales, causing her to lose her baby as she had to wait 16 hours to go to hospital. It has been too much for me.

“We cannot just stand by and watch the destruction of the values we hold dear.

“We teach our children to respect each other. Australians have always wanted to help each other especially in times of hardship.

“Many of my friends and their families are worried about the future and their jobs and families. We have to act decisively to get our economy going,’’ Mrs Palmer said.

“I am looking forward to debating with the Premier over these important matters for Queensland’s future, should she accept my offer,’’ Mrs Palmer said.

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The Chairman of Clive Palmer’s United Australia Party, Clive Palmer together with Queensland Senator Matt Canavan, will address a rally in Clermont this Saturday, October 10.

“The memory of Shifty Shorten and Bob Brown together trying to introduce a death tax last federal election reminds us what Labor is capable of,’’ Mr Palmer said.

“Don’t believe anything Labor says. Australians know all too well that politicians say one thing before an election, and then change their promises once voted in,’’ he said.

The deputy leader of Clive Palmer’s United Australia Party, Anna Palmer, said families had been devastated by Labor’s lies.

“If Labor is re-elected, it gives them four years to introduce a death tax, which will be used to fill the coffers of unionists,’’ Mrs Palmer said.

“Labor is hell-bent in changing Queensland forever. As my husband says, Labor is wholly negative. It’s time to give them the boot, we need a new deal,’’ she said.

“We need real leadership that moves forward when others step back. All leaders need to send Labor a message that they are dreaming.

“Under a returned Labor Government, we will see family assets taken by the state. Our children and grandchildren will have assets chiselled out from them after the hard efforts and endeavours of those before them,’’ Mrs Palmer said.

“They have destroyed families and our economic future. We need to cut the red tape, eliminate payroll tax and eliminate land tax to make our state stronger and more competitive, and provide employment for our people

“We need to get the state moving forward,” Mrs Palmer said.

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Candidate for Currumbin, Anna Palmer, says only Clive Palmer’s United Australia Party can end Labor’s destruction of family values.

“I can’t believe that Labor and Queensland’s Chief Health Officer stopped a young girl from visiting her dying father and then refused to allow her to go to his funeral,’’ Mrs Palmer said.

“If that wasn’t bad enough, they also refused a pregnant woman medical treatment just because she came from New South Wales, causing her to lose her baby as she had to wait 16 hours to go to hospital. It has been too much for me.

“I felt I had to do something. I could not just stand by and watch the destruction of the values we hold dear.

“We teach our children to respect each other. Australians have always wanted to help each other especially in times of hardship.

“Many of my friends and their families are worried about the future and their jobs and families. We have to act decisively to get our economy going,’’ Mrs Palmer said.

“My family is doing all that it can to get the Queensland economy moving again and I wanted to offer myself for  public service. I have never stood for elected office before.

“I know we can’t trust politicians to do the right thing.  We have to make them accountable. By voting for Clive Palmer’s United Australia Party in the state election, we can start that process.

“Queensland is a great state and we have a great future if we work together.  At the election, reject Labor’s planned death tax of 20% to steal from your family.

“In Currumbin, if you agree with me, vote for Anna Palmer and together we can do all we can to make the lives of our families better. Remember to number every square,’’ she said.

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Anna Palmer has been appointed Queensland deputy leader of Clive Palmer’s United Australia Party.

Queensland leader Greg Dowling said the Party Executive of Clive Palmer’s United Australia Party has unanimously endorsed Mrs Palmer for the deputy position.

The mother, business leader, lawyer, chartered accountant and former executive at Rio Tinto is contesting the seat of Currumbin in the upcoming State Election.

“Queenslanders need a new deal, which is why I am honoured to join team Greg Dowling. Greg is a successful businessman and former rugby league great who is committed to Queensland’s future and who knows how to lead.

“As a mother, I am appalled with how the current Queensland Labor government is treating families,’’ Mrs Palmer said.

“The Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young have shown no compassion or common sense during this pandemic.

“We have seen their true colours in the heartless treatment of Queenslanders, barring family members from hospital visits and attending funerals when there has been no sound medical grounds to do so.

“What’s more, the Palaszczuk Government wants to bury Queenslanders with its 20% death tax.

“Queensland Labor has been responsible for a $120 billion debt blowout and now they want to take from the dead to balance their books.

“It’s time to give Labor the boot, we need a new deal for Queensland based on enterprise. We need to cut the red tape, eliminate payroll tax and eliminate land tax to make our state stronger and more competitive, and provide employment for our people.

“We will also ensure a death tax is never introduced in Queensland,’’ Mrs Palmer said.

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Anna Palmer will contest the seat of Currumbin in the upcoming Queensland election to fight for a better deal for families.

The Executive of Clive Palmer’s United Australia Party has endorsed Mrs Palmer for the key Gold Coast electorate, saying she had the most to offer the people of Currumbin and Queensland.

“As a mother, I am appalled with how the current Queensland Labor government is treating families,’’ Mrs Palmer said.

“The Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and Chief Health Officer Dr Jeanette Young have shown no compassion or common sense during this pandemic.

“We have seen their true colours in the heartless treatment of Queenslanders, barring family members from hospital visits and attending funerals when there has been no sound medical grounds to do so.

“Meanwhile movie stars and celebrities appear free to move as they please.  The double standards being shown by the Queensland Labor government are a disgrace,’’ Mrs Palmer said.

Mrs Palmer said the Queensland Government’s proposed death tax was another firm reminder that it had lost its moral compass.

“The only way Labor can reduce its debt is by taking from Queensland families. They are out of ideas and have no policies that can deliver growth and a strong economic future for this state,’’ Mrs Palmer said.

“Under a returned Labor Government, we will see family assets taken by the state to cover its $120 billion debt blowout.

“Our children and grandchildren will have assets stolen from them after the hard efforts and endeavours of those before them,’’ Mrs Palmer said.

“Queenslanders work so hard for their money, why should the Government receive a 20% handout because of its own incompetence?

“We need a new deal for Queensland,’’ she said.

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Clive Palmer has accused WA Premier Mark McGowan of a stunning about-face by finally admitting his hard border stance is for economic reasons.

Mr Palmer criticised the Premier’s latest defence of the closure saying he was motivated by keeping cashed up West Australians locked up in his own state.

In the media today Mr McGowan was quoted as saying:  “The other states want us to open the border so that West Australian tourists will flow east,” he said.

“We have higher incomes, we have people that are more used to travelling, and therefore will have more tourists go from Western Australia to the east.

“They’re not advocating for it for any other reason than they want to see West Australian incomes spent in Sydney or Brisbane or wherever it might be.”

Mr Palmer said the WA Premier was not interested in reuniting Australia.

“I have always maintained that Mark McGowan closed the borders for economic reasons. He wants to separate WA from the rest of Australia,’’ Mr Palmer said.

“WA is persisting with its hard borders yet it has the second highest number of growing cases behind Victoria.

“Today there are zero active cases of COVID-19 in Tasmania, South Australia, the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory. There are only five in Queensland and no hotspots

“There is no reason why WA should not immediately open its borders to the states where the virus is under control,’’ Mr Palmer said.

“All Western Australians must now be a wake up to Mark McGowan. He doesn’t want Australia united.

“I’m confident the when this issue gets to the High Court the borders will be opened so we can trade between States again and get the Australian economy moving.”

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Clive Palmer has again called for WA Premier Mark McGowan to open the borders to non COVID hotspots as the State records more new virus cases than anywhere in Australia.

“The WA Premier’s record is in tatters. What is happening in WA has nothing to do with state borders, with the virus originating from a bulk carrier anchored off the north coast.

“The fact remains that there have been zero transmissions of the virus in Western Australia from interstate,’’ Mr Palmer said.

“With eight suicides every week in Western Australia and domestic violence up 300 percent it is so important the borders are open to save lives.

“It is imperative that the borders are reopened so that trade and commerce can resume, so we can create jobs and so our tourism industry can survive,’’ Mr Palmer said.

“Today there are zero active cases of COVID-19 in Tasmania, the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory. Other states such as Queensland and South Australia are doing extremely well.

“There is no reason why WA should not immediately open its borders to the states where the virus is under control,’’ Mr Palmer said.

“Labor is always negative. They are ruining Australian lives,” Mr Palmer said.

“McGowan is sending WA down the path of economic ruin just to win votes on election day.”

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