PM Should Discipline Loughnane, says Clive Palmer

Media release

Palmer United Party federal leader Clive Palmer has called on Prime Minister Tony Abbott to discipline Liberal Party federal director Brian Loughnane for suggesting the Liberals collude with Labor to counter the minor parties in the Senate.

Mr Palmer said the comments from Mr Loughnane at the National Press Club in Canberra today were an attack on democracy.

“Tony Abbott should discipline his federal director for stating that the Liberals should collude with Labor against the minor parties in the Senate,” he said.

“This is just an attack on democracy and highlights how the major parties want Australia to be run by a duopoly dictatorship.

“Australia’s international standing will be damaged by Mr Loughnane’s attack on democracy, which Australians have fought and died for in two world wars and other conflicts.

“I call on Australians to write to their federal MPs to complain about this attempt to eliminate competition from the political landscape.

“Any party should be allowed to stand for parliament and our political system should not be about simply upholding the standing of the major parties.

“Australians are clearly showing they are disappointed and disillusioned with the major parties and that’s why there was strong support for the Palmer United Party in its election debut.”

Mr Palmer also denied claims by Mr Loughnane that the Palmer United Party had spent more than the ALP during the final week of the September 7 election campaign.

“Those claims are totally false,” he said.

ENDS