Stop with the shallow words Pauline

The leader of Clive Palmer’s United Australia Party has urged One Nation senator Pauline Hanson to stop with the shallow words over Queensland borders.

“I have lodged a fully funded action with the High Court challenging both the WA and Queensland border closures as unconstitutional.

“This matter will cost in the order of $1 million, a far cry from the $17,000 Pauline Hanson has scraped together through crowdfunding,’’ Mr Palmer said.

“Our challenge does not need her support, which is only confusing the issue and wasting the court’s time.”

The comments come as Mr Palmer’s High Court challenge moves towards a full bench hearing.

At a directions hearing conducted before Her Honour Chief Justice Kiefel on Thursday, Her Honour indicated that if the parties were able to ready the matter for hearing, the Court was available to hear the matter in early July 2020.

Her Honour made directions for the parties to exchange further documents and for a further directions hearing on 10 June 2020 to check progress on the matter at which time it is expected that any orders setting the matter down for hearing would be made.

Mr Palmer said it was clear that WA Premier Mark McGowan and Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk needed to act immediately to open up their respective state borders to restore jobs and economic confidence.

“Both Labor premiers need to act swiftly and decisively to ensure a successful future beyond COVID-19 by opening their borders to trade and travel from other Australian states.

“The WA and Queensland economies must keep growing and moving forward especially during the COVID-19 downturn. This is crucial for the survival of the domestic economy and for the whole of Australia,’’ he said.

“Pauline Hanson needs the High Court to hear the matter before it and not divert attention to herself for political gain,’’ Mr Palmer said.

ENDS