Federal Member for Fairfax

CLIVE PALMER MPHouse of Representatives

visionforAUSTRALIA

Authorised by Clive Palmer, Member for Fairfax, 17 Southern Drive, Maroochydore, QLD 4558

Clive Palmer being sworn in to the 44th Parliament of Australia, representing the people of Fairfax

• StoppedtheGPCo-Payment.

• Stoppednegativechangestouniversities.

• Stopped$10billioncutstosocialsecurity.

• Freedover436childrenandfamiliesfromdetention.

• Freed1,500peopleintotalfromChristmasIsland.

• Resolvedover30,000casesindetention.

• Introducedthe(SHEV)SafeHavenEnterpriseVisa.

• SavedtheLowIncomeSuperforovertwomillionAustralians.

• KepttheSchoolkidsBonus.

• KeptLowIncomeSupport.

• Reducedelectricitypricesby10%Australia-wide.

• Made15changestoDirectActioninSenateAmendmentsthenpassedDirectAction.

• SavedtheClimateChangeAuthority.

• SavedtheCleanEnergyFinanceCorporation.

• SavedARENA(AustralianRenewableEnergyAuthority).

• SavedRET(RenewableEnergyTarget).

• Fixedpensionsforallveteransandex-servicemenandwomenover55.

• StoppedCampbellNewman.

• Setupthreeparliamentaryinquiriesinto:-

- TradeInvestmentandGrowth.

- AustraliaFund.

- QueenslandGovernment.

• AbolishedCarbonTax.

• AbolishedMiningTax.

• IntroducedthePrivateMember’sBillonForeignDeathPenalty.

• Protectedmaritimeworkers’jobs.

• ProvedthatgovernmentandcommunitydebtwasnotaproblemforAustralia.

• Cabinetadoptedourpolicytobanlobbyistsfrompartypositions.

• StoppedGrainCorpsaleandintroducedPrivateMember’sBill.

• Electoralreform-pensinsteadofpencils.

• KeptQantasAustralian-owned.

• Stoppedchangestoincometax-freethreshold.

• Stoppedfinancialincentivetosellpublicassets.

• SavedAustralianjobsinoffshoregasindustry.

• Stoppedslashingofuniversityresearchgrants.

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SinceIwaselectedastheFederalMemberforFairfaxinlate2013ourteamhasachievedsomeremarkablesuccessinparliamentforyouandallAustralians.Someofourachievementsare:

Federal Member for Fairfax

CLIVE PALMER MP

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

PARLIAMENT of AUSTRALIA

HOUSE COMMITTEES: Standing Committee on Infrastructure & Communications

Standing Committee on EconomicsJoint Select Committee on Trade & Investment Growth

CONTACT USPostal: PO Box 1978, Maroochydore, QLD 4558 • Phone: (07) 5479 2800 • Fax: (07) 5443 5333 Email: palmer.fairfax@palmerunited.com • Web: www.palmerfairfax.com.au

@CliveFPalmer www.facebook.com/ClivePalmerMP

Watch Clive Palmer’s budget speech on

YouTube via this QR code

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4 Clive Palmer’s Vision for AustraliaReal ideas to get the country moving again.

9 Australia in 2015Real data on the true state of Australia’s economy.

14 How does Australia compare? How we perform in relation to the rest of the world.

19 Maiden Speech in ParliamentClive Palmer speaks of his love for Australia and his vision for the future.

22 Higher Education BillClive Palmer speaks to the House on one of Budget 2014’s most unpopular measures.

24 Vale Rt Hon Malcolm FraserClive Palmer’s tribute to a great Australian.

26 Question TimeA comprehensive summary of Clive Palmer’s questions to the Abbott Government.

contents

Clive Palmer with former US Vice President Al Gore

MenandWomenofAustralia,

Ourcountryisknownforitsstrengthandourpeopleknownfortheirresilience.Today,wefindournationinneedofbothstrengthandresilience.

ThemainissuefacingAustraliatodayisnotjustbalancingourbudget,butwhatAustralianscandotoregainAustralia’sstatusastheluckycountry.Sadly,theLiberalandLaborpartiesaredevoidofideas.

Governmentsmayriseandfall,primeministersmaycomeandgo,butideasgoonforever.Australianswanttoknow-andAustraliansneedtoknow-howtheirlifecanbecomebetter;howlifecanbeimprovedfortheirfamilies;notin30years’time,butinourtime,now.

Domesticdemandisatanall-timelow;interestratesareatanall-timelow.It’snotbecausetheeconomyisdoingwell,it’sbecausethereisnoeconomicdemand.Becauseoureconomyisspiralingdownwardsandshrinking,andourpeopleholdtheirsavingsinfear.

PeoplearesufferingintheLatrobeValleyinVictoria,intheHunterinNewSouthWales,Elizabethin

SouthAustralia,Perth,allthroughTasmaniaandtheterritories.Australianshavelosthopeforthefuture.Wehavetore-establishconfidenceandleadthenation,nottomorrow,butnow.

Australianeedsarevolutioninthewaywethink,thewayweboostthewealthoftheeconomy,notforourselves,butforallourcitizens.Wehavetore-establishconfidence.Nottomorrow,buttoday.

InthefollowingpagesIwillexaminesomeofthethingswehavebeenabletoachieveinparliament.Iwillthensetthetruthfreeandtellyouwhattherealstateofourcountryisandhowourperformancecompareswiththeworld.

Governmentfinancesaredifferentthanthestateofoureconomy;thetruthyouseewillsetyoufree.

ThenIwilloutlinewhatwecanbecomeandwhatwecanachieveforeveryoneinthiscountry.

WeareallonStruggle Streettogether,butit’sourcountryandit’sourresponsibilitytodoallwecantomakethelivesofallourcitizensbetterthanitistoday.Itrulybelieveitcanbedone.

In May 2015 at a special function in Canberra, Clive Palmer delivered his Vision for Australia and response to the Abbott Government’s second budget. His speech picked apart the budget, just as he did in 2014 when he dismantled the debt myth peddled by the government, forcing them to eventually admit the economy was in much better shape than they would have the Australian public believe. In the following pages, Clive Palmer presents his Vision for Australia. It is full of real and current data showing you the real state of Australia’s economic affairs. But most importantly, it is rich with ideas on how we can reinstate Australia as the ‘lucky country’ once again.

Vision for Australia

Being greeted by another media pack in CanberraSpeaking at the National Press Club in Canberra. Clive Palmer has delivered speeches here on five occassions

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TogetAustraliamovingagainweneedtostimulatedemand.

Reducingcompanytaxby1.5%doesnotstimulatetheeconomy.Youhavetomakeaprofitbeforeyoupaytax.Becauseoflowdemandandlimitedmoneysupply,theproblemisthatsmallbusinessesarelosingprofitability.Youhavetocreatedemandbyincreasingthemoneysupply.Peopleneedmoneytobuygoodsandservicesforcompaniestomakeaprofitandthereforepaytax.

Projectedcompanytaxreceiptsfor2015willexceed$70billion.Insteadofcompaniespayingtaxquarterlyinadvancebasedonanestimate,weneedtoletthempayityearly.Ifwekeep$70billioninenterprises’handsfortwelvemonths,we’llboostthiseconomy;weknowtheycanspenditbetterthangovernment.Australianswillcreaterealdemandandmassivejobgrowth,andbydoingsowipeoffourdeficit,makingoureconomystronger.

If$70billionisspentbyindividualtaxpayersduringtheyear,evenonlyonce,thegovernmentgets10%GST,morerevenuebasedonmoreactivityandmorewealthcreation.

Thatwaywecanhavebetterhospitals,betterschoolsandbetterservicefromourgovernment.Whyshouldcompaniespaytheirtaxquarterlyinadvance,based

onanestimateofprofitstheymaynevermake?Whyshouldthegovernmentkeepthatmoneyinanaccount?Whyshouldn’titbeouttherecirculatingintheeconomy,creatingjobsforyou,yourfamilyandenterprises?Whyshouldn’twedothat?And,asIsaid,everytimethat$70billionisspent,thegovernmentgetsanextra$7billionGST.

Andyouknowwhat?Attheendoftheyeartheystillgetthe$70billionaswell.Ifthemoneycirculatesjustfourtimesbeforeit’spaidtogovernmentthegovernmentgetsanextra$28billion,plusmoregroupandcompanytax,andpaysoutlessforunemploymentbenefits.

Morehospitals,moreschools,arisinglivingstandard;giveAustralialeadership.IncreasingoureconomyandrevenuemeanswecanimplementchangestomakeAustralians’livesbetter.Atthecurrentinterestrateof2%,thatchangewillcostapproximately$850millionayearininterest,butgenerateover$30billionforthenationwithoutanylong-termborrowing.

Thisincreaseindemandandactivitywillboostjobs,investmentandsmallbusinessprofits.Itwillstimulatetheeconomyandcreatemorejobs.

Spendingmoneymakestheworldgoaround,createswealthandmakesthepiebiggerforallofustoshare.

“To get Australia moving we need to stimulate demand.”

At Nambour High School with some of their great students

Speaking with servicemen on Anzac Day in Maroochydore Pakistan Resolution Day in Canberra

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Thefirst$10,000paidonahomeloaneachyearshouldbetaxdeductible.Australiansneedthedreamofhomeownership.Itwillmakeourhousesaffordableagain,increaseemploymentandgiveouryoungpeopleagoaltostrivefor.

Thiswillboosttheconstructionindustry,increaseourhomeownershipandboostbuildingactivitytosatisfydemand,whichinturnwillincreaserevenueforthegovernment.Bygrowingdemandandgovernmentrevenuewecanreducepersonalincometaxby15%forallAustralians.

ThiswillmeantheaverageAustraliantaxpayerwillhave$2500extraintheirpocketeveryyear;anextra$50aweek.Thisincreaseindemandandactivitywillboostjobs,investmentandsmallbusinessprofits.

Itwillstimulatetheeconomyandcreatemorejobs.

Asthatextra$2500circulatesinoureconomy,evenifit’sjusttentimes,Iestimatethegovernmentwillgetthesameamountofrevenueastheydidfromthetaxcuts.Butmoneywilldowhatitdoesbestbycirculating,creatingjobs,lookingtothefutureandgivingourcitizenshope.

Weknowourcitizenscanspendmoneybetterthangovernment,creatingmoredemand,jobsandgovernmentrevenue.Everytimeit’sspentthegovernmentgets10%GST.

FortoolongAustralianshavelackedincentiveandconfidenceandfelttheycannothelpthemselves.Wewanttochangethat.WecanigniteAustraliaifweworktogether.

Australiansneedincentive.Withoutincentivethere’snogrowthinoureconomy.Oureconomycontinuestodecline,therevenueshrinksandthegovernmentwantstocloseourschools,privatiseourhospitalsandturnpeopleaway.ThelackofincentiveforworkersisaproblemwefaceinAustraliatoday.Industrymustprovideincentivesforallwhoserveit.

Australianworkersdon’thaveasecondjobbecauseofthehighrateoftaxation.Weneedtogivethemanincentive.

OurpensionersarepaidoneofthelowestpensionsintheOECDandtheirlivingstandardisclosetothepovertyline.Wecanchangeallthatifwestimulateoureconomy.Wecanincreasetheagepensionby20%or$150perfortnight.Thisstepwillinitselfstimulatedemandandcreatejobs.

PresidentObamadiditintheUnitedStates.Europeisstimulatingitseconomynow.

WecannottolerateAustraliansdyinginthecorridorsofourhospitals.ThecostofhealthcareintheUnitedStatesis17%ofGDP,yet60millionAmericansarenotcovered.TheAustralianGovernmentspendsaround9%.

Wecannotdesertthesickandthedying.Medicalstaffareoverworkedandhospitalsinadequate.Ourmedicalstaffareatbreakingpoint.Australianeedsanadditional$80billioninfundingforhealthinthenextthreeyears.InthedaysofPrimeMinisterMenziesourdebtswerearound40%ofGDP,whichwouldstillbeonly60%ofOECDaverage.Wemustdowhateverneedstobedonetofixhealthcareonceandforall.

TheAustralianGovernmentisthemainpractitionerofbankruptcyandcompanyliquidationsacrossAustralia.Ascompaniesclose,employeeslosetheirjobs,thegovernmentlosesgrouptaxandpeopletransferfromgainfulemploymenttoCentrelink.

Our pensioners are paid one of the lowest pensions in the OECD and their living standard is close to the poverty line.

At St Ignatius’, Tony Abbott’s old school!

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Suncoast Christian College visits Parliament House in Canberra

The infamous dinner with Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull at the Wild Duck in Canberra

Companytaxesaredestroyedandtaxestocompensatecontinuetoclimb.Servicesspiraldownineducationandhealthserviceshavetobecuttoprotecttherevenue.Let’sprotecttheAustralianpeopleandtheirjobs.Let’sprotectwhatthecountrystandsfor.

Ifgovernmentstoppeddrivingbusinesstothewall,thiswouldn’thappen.

Australianeedstorestructurethesystem;tokeeppeopleemployedproductively.TotransferpeoplefromgainfulemploymenttounemploymentjustguaranteesmiseryforallAustralians.WeneedtohaveaChapter11liketheyhaveintheUS.Whencompaniesfailthebusinesscontinuessoworkerskeeptheirjobsandtheirfamilieshaveincome.

AsgovernmentservicescontinuetobreakdownandAustraliaheadstowardsacatastrophe,wethinkwe’rehelplessandcannotdoanythingaboutit.

ButAustralianscan.

Wemustprovidemorefundingtoeducationinthiscountry.Afreenationcanrisenohigherthanthestandardofexcellencesetinitsschoolsandcolleges.

Ignorance,illiteracy,unskilledworkersandschooldropouts-thesearethefailuresofaneducational

systeminthepast;asystemthatbreedsfailuresinoursocialandeconomicsetup,suchasdelinquency,unemployment,chronicdependency,awasteofhumanresources,alossofproductivepowerandpurchasing,andanincreaseoftax-supportedbenefits.

Thelossofonlyoneyear’sincomeduetounemploymentismorethanthetotalcostoftwelveyears’educationthroughhighschool.Failuretoimproveoureducationperformanceisnotonlypoorsocialpolicy,itispooreconomicpolicy.

Atthestartofthelastcentury,only10%ofouradultshadahighschooloruniversityeducation.

Today,suchaneducationhasbecomearequirementforanincreasingnumberofjobs.

Ouraimistoinjectanextra$20billionintotheeducationsysteminourfirstthreeyearsofgovernment.It’stimetoinvestinourselves.

Ifwedon’thaveconfidenceinourselves,whowillhaveconfidenceinus?Wemusteducateourchildren,ourmostvaluableresource.

Wemustmakeitpossibleforthosewithtalenttogotouniversity,butonlyifthosewhoareeducatedcanfindajob.That’swhyourabilitytocompeteinternationallytoexpandourexportsissoimportant.

“Let’s protect the Australian people and

their jobs. Let’s protect what the country

stands for.”

Press conference with former US Vice President Al Gore in Canberra Mixing with Diggers on Anzac Day in Fairfax An ABC birthday surprise in Canberra

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WeneedtosupportregionalAustraliabyintroducingthezonaltaxationsystem.

ThiswillprovideincentivetodecentraliseAustraliaandmaximisethedeliveryofservicestoregionalAustralia.

Itwillprovideincentiveinregionalareas.Wehavetoensureregionalhospitalshavedoctors,thatregionalindustriesdevelopforthebenefitoftheircommunities,andforallAustralians.

TheAustralianGovernmentmustsupportAustralianindustriesandensureallpoliciesputAustraliafirst.

WemustencourageAustralianstobuyAustralianproducewithlabellingandpackagingchangedsoAustraliansclearlyknowwhatproduceisAustralian.

Japanhasbecometheworld’sthirdlargesteconomybyprocessingAustralianresources.Youknow,thecostofenergyismoreexpensiveinJapanandJapansuffersfromthetyrannyofdistance.Wagesarealsohigher,yetAustraliasellsitsmineralresourcesfrom$40to$100atonnetotheJapanese,theyprocessitinJapanandsellitfor$20,000atonne.

TheycreateexportsinJapan,whileAustraliansinSouthAustralia,Victoria,Tasmania,NewSouth

Wales,QueenslandandevenWesternAustralia,gowithoutajoboranyhopeforthemselves.

TheAustralianGovernmentneedsto

demonstrateleadershiponthisissueandwarrantthatAustralianresourcesareprocessedinAustraliaforthebenefitofAustralians.

AustraliamustensuremineralsfromWesternAustraliaandQueenslandarethenprocessedinNewSouthWales,Victoria,TasmaniaandSouthAustralia.Weneedarealmanufacturingindustryinareaswherewehavetheeconomicadvantage,ratherthanexportingjobstoChinaandJapan.

95%ofAustraliansagreeonwhat’sgoodforthemandtheircommunity,butLaborandLiberalspenda100%ofthetimearguingaboutthethingsthatcreatedisagreementsanddisunityinourcountry.

TheycausedivisionwhenAustralianneedsunity.Theycausedisruptioninourindustrieswhenweneedajointeffort.

Asagreatmanoncesaid,inthefinalanalysis,weareallmortal,weallliveonthisonesmallplanet,weallbreathethesameairandweallwantagoodfutureforourchildren.

WhentheAnzacswentoverseas,theydidn’tgoasmembersoftheLiberalPartyormembersoftheLaborParty;theywentasAustralians.Weneedtoputtheideaofaclasswarbehindusandunitethenation.

ThiscountryhasthestrengthandpotentialtoliveoutitsheritageandfulfilthedreamsoftheAnzacs.

ToreinstateAustraliaastheluckycountry,weneedtoreunitethecountryanddowhat’sbestforallAustralians.

Failure to improve our education performance is not only poor social policy, it is poor economic policy.

Press conference with former Liberal Leader John Hewson

Our promise... and we kept it! Listening to the concerns of Australians

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AUSTRALIA 2015Economic Resilience – real GDP growth

Overtwodecadesofuninterruptedannualeconomicgrowth,theAustralianeconomyremainedresilient,sustainedbysoundmacro-economicpolicies,stronginstitutionsandcontinueddemandforhardandsoftcommoditiesfromAsia.Australiaistheonlydevelopedeconomytohaverecordednoannualrecessionsduringthepast23years,placingitalongsidehighgrowtheconomiessuchasChinaandIndia.

AustralianGovernmentdebtisoneoftheworld’slowest.InitsOctober2014fiscalmonitor,theInternationalMonetaryFundestimatedthattheAustraliangovernment’snetdebtwouldbe16.6%ofGDPin2015,wellbelowthe74.1%forecastforadvancedeconomies.Actuallyit’sonly14%ofGDP,lessthanthe40%underBobMenzies’Government.ThelowpublicsectordebtreinforcesAustralia’shealthyfinancialpositionandsoundeconomiccredentials,andunderpinsitsstrongratings.

1992 - 2014Note: Colour circles represent the

number of years in recession.

Source: International Monetary Fund, World Economic Outlook Database,

October 2014; Austrade

AU

STR

ALI

A

Can

ada

US

A

UK

Fran

ce

Sw

itzer

land

Ger

man

y

Net

herla

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Eur

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rea

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n

Italy

Chi

na

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nam

Indi

a

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orea

Indo

nesi

a

Mal

aysi

a

Taiw

an

UA

E

Hon

g K

ong

Bra

zil

Sin

gapo

re

Thai

land

IMF staff estimates and projections. Projections

are based on staff assessment of current

policies. For cross-country comparability, gross and

net debt levels reported by national statistical agencies for countries

that have adopted the 2008 System of National

Accounts (Australia, Canada and USA) are

adjusted to exclude unfunded pension liabilities

of government employees’ defined benefit pension

plans. Source: International Monetary Fund, Fiscal

Monitor October 2014, Statistical Tables 8 and 16;

Austrade.

General government net debt in 2015 (as a percentage of GDP)

Gre

ece

Japa

n

Por

tuga

l

Italy

Irela

nd

Fran

ce

Bel

gium U

K

US

A

Spa

in

Ger

man

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Sou

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frica

Mex

ico

Can

ada

Net

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Bra

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New

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10

Economic statistics – IMF net debt data (as a percentage of GDP)Economic Statistics – IMF Net Debt Data

General government net debt as a percentage of GDP

Source: International Monetary Fund, World Economic Outlook Database - April 2014, accessed 6 May 2014

-10.0

0.0

10.0

20.0

30.0

40.0

50.0

60.0

70.0

80.0

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

%

Australia IMF - Advanced economies

Source: International Monetary Fund, World

Economic Outlook Database - April 2014,

accessed 6 May 2014

Note: Circles are not to scale. Data between countries is not strictly comparable. Refers to home domiciled funds, except Hong Kong and New Zealand, which include home and foreign-domiciled funds. Funds of funds are not included, except for France, Germany, Italy and Luxembourg. In this statistical release, ‘investment fund’ refers to a publicly offered, open-end fund investing in transferable securities and money market funds. It is equivalent to ‘mutual fund’ in the US and ‘UCITS’ (Undertakings for the Collective Investment of Transferable Securities) in the European Fund and Asset Management Association’s statistics on the European investment fund industry. Australia’s investment funds in the Investment Company Institute survey only include consolidated assets of collective investment institutions.Sources: Investment Company Institute, Worldwide Mutual Fund Assets and Flows, Second Quarter 2014 (released 2 October 2014); Hong Kong’s data (Non-REIT fund management business – the sum of asset management business and fund advisory business of licensed corporations), sourced from Securities and Futures Commission, Fund Management Activities Survey 2013 (released July 2014); Singapore’s data sourced from Monetary Authority of Singapore, 2013 Singapore Asset Management.

Investment fund assets, US$ billion, June quarter, 2014Global significance of Australia’s investment fund assets pool

Theworld’slargestpooloffundsundermanagement–setforgrowth.Australia’spoolofFundsUnderManagement(FUM)isthethirdlargestintheworldandthelargestintheAsianregion,accordingtotheinvestmentcompanyinstitute’sworldwidemutualfundassetsandflowsdata.TheglobalsignificanceofAustralia’sFundsUnderManagementandthematurityofitsfundsindustryunderscoresitspotentialtofurtherdevelopasaregionalfundsmanagementcentre.

41 66 127 309 561

NewZealand

Taiwan India SouthKorea

China Japan Singapore HongKong

Australia

CurrentValue2010

2005

1990

2000

1995

AustraliaJapan Canada Brazil UK Singapore Ireland France Hong Kong Luxembourg USA

%

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Growthinproductivityisoutpacinglabourcosts.Australiahasenjoyedasustainedperiodoflabourproductivitygrowthexceedinggrowthinrealwages.OverAustralia’s23yearsofconsecutiveeconomicgrowth,labourproductivityhasrecordedacompoundannualgrowthrateof1.8%perannum,whilerealunitlabourcostshavefallenby0.5%eachyear.Australiahasexperiencedparticularlystronglabourproductivitygrowthoverthepasttwoyears,withgrowthof1.9%in2012–13and2.6%in2013–14.Duringthissameperiod,realunitlabourcostshavebroadlyremainedstable,indicatingthattheeffectivecostoflabourhasremainedinlinewithproductivityimprovements.

Australia’s labour productivity and costs 1991–2014 (as at 30 June each year, trend terms)

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Cat. No. 5206.0

– Australian National Accounts: National Income,

Expenditure and Product, Table 1. Key National

Accounts Aggregates, Time Series Workbook (released 3 September 2014); Austrade

Australiaisagloballeaderfortertiaryeducationentryrates.Australiahasoneofthehighestentryratesintotertiarytype-Aeducationintheworldat102percent,includinginternationalstudents.ThisiswellabovetheOECDaverage(58%),theUSA(71%)andtheUK(68%).Australia’stertiaryeducationentryrateisalsomuchhigherthanAsiancountriessuchasSouthKorea(69%),Japan(52%)andChina(18%).ThehighratesoftertiaryeducationunderpinAustralia’spositionasthenumberonedevelopedcountryintermsofrealGDPgrowth.

Entry rates into tertiary education 2012 Note: Entry rates represent the percentage of an age cohort that is expected to enter

a tertiary program over a lifetime. New entrants data for international students is not

specified.The entry rates for tertiary type-A programs include the entry rates for tertiary

type-B programs. Type-A refers to largely theory-based programs designed to provide

qualifications for entry to advanced research programs and professions with high skill

requirements, such as medicine, dentistry or architecture. Duration >3 years full-time

and not exclusively offered at universities. Type-B refers to shorter programs focused on practical, technical or occupational skills for

direct entry into the labour market, although some theoretical foundations may be covered.

Minimum 2 years full-time equivalent at the tertiary level.New entrants data by age is not

specified.Source: OECD, Education at a Glance 2014, Table C3.1, (last updated 4 September

2014); Austrade

AU

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land

Nor

way

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91 =

100

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Australia’spoliciescreateanenvironmentofeconomicfreedom.Australiaranksthirdinthe2014indexofeconomicfreedom,apositionheldforthepastsixyears.Thesurveystatesthat‘openness to global trade and investment is firmly institutionalised, supported by a relatively efficient entrepreneurial framework and a well-functioning independent judiciary. Australia has a strong tradition of reliable property rights protection, and the legal system is transparent and evenly applied’.ItalsostatesthatAustraliacontinuestobenefitsignificantlyfromitstransparentandefficientbusinessenvironment,andopen-marketpolicies.

The 2014 Index of Economic Freedom covers 186 economies and measures 10 components of economic freedom (Business Freedom, Trade Freedom, Fiscal Freedom, Government Spending, Monetary Freedom, Investment Freedom, Financial Freedom, Property Rights, Freedom from Corruption and Labour Freedom).

The 10 component scores are equally weighted and averaged to get an overall economic freedom score for each economy. The number in brackets in the chart indicates the country’s world ranking. Sources: The Wall Street Journal and The Heritage Foundation, 2014 Index of Economic Freedom; Austrade

Foreign-born population (As a percentage of total population – 2011 or latest available year)

Source: The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Key statistics on migration

in OECD countries, Stocks and flows of immigrants,

2001–2011, Table A.4. Stocks of foreign-born population in OECD countries and the

Russian Federation; Austrade

AustraliaisoneofthemostculturallydiversecountriesintheOECD.Theavailabilityofmultilingual,culturallydiverseandhighlyskilledpersonnelmeansAustraliaoffersaccesstoaworkforcewellequippedwiththeculturalunderstandingandlanguagecapabilitiestoserviceinternationalbusinessesintheirownlanguages.

SwitzerlandAUSTRALIA

IsraelNew Zealand

CanadaIrelandAustria

SwedenBelgium

SpainGermany

USANorway

UKFrance

NetherlandsItaly

PortugalDenmark

RussiaGreeceFinland

HungaryChile

PolandMexico

Index of economic freedom world ranking 2014Hong Kong (1)Singapore (2)

AUSTRALIA (3)Switzerland (4)

New Zealand (5)Canada (6)

Chile (7)Mauritius (8)

Ireland (9)Denmark (10)

USA (12)UK (14)

Netherlands (15)Taiwan (17)

Germany (18)Japan (25)

UAE (28)South Korea (31)

Malaysia (37)Spain (49)

France (70)Thailand (72)

Italy (86)Philippines (89)Indonesia (100)

Brazil (114)India (120)

China (137)Russia (140)

Vietnam (147)

Economic Freedom Score80 - 100 Free70 - 79.9 Mostly Free60 - 69.9 Moderately Free50 - 59.9 Mostly Unfree0 - 49.9 Repressed

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AustraliahasthesecondlargeststockmarketintheAsianregion.WearealsohometothelargestliquidstockmarketintheAsianregionoutsideJapan.ItistheeighthlargestintheworldwithtotalcapitalexceedingUS$1.12trillioninSept2014.Australia’smarketcapitalisationoffree-floatingsharesisgreaterthanChina’sUS$1.06trillion,doubleHongKong’sUS$528billionandaroundfourtimesthemarketcapitalofSingapore’satUS$261billion.

Note: The number in brackets is the world ranking of each country or economy (out of 48). Standard & Poor’s capitalisation-weighted indices are float adjusted. Under float adjustment, the share counts used in calculating the indices reflect only those shares available to investors rather than all of a company’s outstanding

shares. Float adjustment excludes shares that are closely held by control groups, other publicly traded companies or government agencies. Source: Standard & Poor’s, S&P Dow Jones Indices World-By-Numbers: September 2014; Austrade

Australia’s projected superannuation assets 2012 - 2033

Long-termpensionpoolgrowthsupportsfutureinvestmentopportunities.Australia’s$1.6trillionsuperannuationsystemisthe4thlargestintheworldandamajordriverbehindAustralia’sgloballysignificantfundsmanagementindustry.Thispoolofassetsisexpectedtogrowto$7.6trillion,or180%ofGDP,overthenexttwodecades.Wedon’tneedtotamperwiththepension.Australiansprovidefortheirlong-termretirementontheirownefforts.

Source: Deloitte Actuaries & Consultants, September 2013, Dynamics of the Australian Superannuation System: The next 20 years: 2013–2033, Austrade

Size of key stock markets in Asia 2014Market capitalisation of free-floating stocks (US$ billion, 30 Sept 2014)

USA (1) 21,717Japan (2) 3,655UK (3) 3,179Canada (4) 1,675France (5) 1,408Germany (6) 1,305Switzerland (7) 1,247Australia (8) 1,123Global 44,352

Australia(8)

China(9)

South Korea (10)

Taiwan(11)

Hong Kong (13)

India (16)

Singapore (20)

Malaysia (25)

Thailand (28)

Indonesia (29)

Philippines (34)

New Zealand (40)

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n

14

How does Australia compare?Spending on the elderly as percentage of GDP

Source: OECD StatExtracts, accessed 27 April 2015. Note: Australia had the 9th lowest share of GDP spent on health in 2011.

Spending on the unemployed as percentage of GDP

Source: OECD StatExtracts, accessed 27 April 2015. Note: Australia’s ranking has slipped from 12th highest share of GDP spent on unemployment in 2000 in the OECD to the 22nd highest in 2011.

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

Mex

ico

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a

Chile

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and

Cana

da

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nd

New

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land

Aust

ralia

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es

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any

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and

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Perc

ent o

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ep

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gary

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and

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l

Aus

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ece

Fran

ce

Italy

Per

cent

age

of G

DP

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

4

Chile

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Pola

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Per

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15

Unemployment rate comparisons 2014

Source: OECD StatExtracts, accessed 27 April 2015. Note: Australia had the 10th lowest unemployment rate out of all OECD countries in 2014.

How does Australia compare?

0.0

5.0

10.0

15.0

20.0

25.0

30.0

Nor

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n

Switz

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Aust

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Source: OECD StatExtracts, accessed 27 April 2015.

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GDP growth rate comparisons in 2014

16

Health spending as a percentage of GDP

Source: OECD StatExtracts, accessed 27 April 2015. Note: public spending includes spending on old age pensions and other benefits for older people; survivors pensions and benefits; spending on people with disabilities or incapacities; family benefits and allowances; and spending on active labour market programs.

Source: OECD StatExtracts, accessed 27 April 2015. Note: Australia had the 13th lowest share of GDP spent on health in 2011.

How does Australia compare?

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

Perc

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f GDP

2000

2014

Kor

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Est

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Per

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0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

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9

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17

How does Australia compare?

Social expenditure statistics - as percentage of GDP

Notes: Data for 2010 to 2013 are estimates and

are only available for aggregates.

Source: OECD Social Expenditure Statistics,

Social Expenditure, Aggregated data.

0.0

5.0

10.0

15.0

20.0

25.0

30.0

35.0

1990 1995 2000 2005 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

%

Australia

Canada

France

Germany

Japan

New Zealand

United Kingdom

United States

OECD - Total

.

Public social expenditure as a percentage of GDP

0.00

2.00

4.00

6.00

8.00

10.00

12.00

14.00

16.00

18.00

20.00

%

Public cash benefits, as a % of GDP

2009 2013

Notes:Data for 2013 an OECD Estimate.Source: OECD Social Expenditure Statistics, Social Expenditure, Aggregated data.

Social expenditure statistics - Cash benefitsPublic cash benefits as a percentage of GDP

Notes: Data for 2013 an OECD estimate. Source: OECD Social Expenditure, Social Expenditure, Aggregated data.

%

2009 2013

Aus

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18

How does Australia compare?Social expenditure statistics - public old age

Notes: Source: OECD Social Expenditure, Social Expenditure, Aggregated data.

Social expenditure statistics - health

Notes: Where 2011 data not available, earlier data used. Source: OECD Health Statistics 2013m Health at a Glance.

Total expenditure on health per capita, average annual growth rates in real terms, 2000-11

2.7

1.8

3.1 3.0

7.1

4.7

2.3

5.3

3.5

1.8 2.1 2.1

3.0

0.6

4.4

1.71.2

3.0

8.7

0.7

2.8

4.7

3.8

2.4

6.0

1.1

10.0

2.93.3 3.1

1.8

5.6

4.0

3.03.4

0.0

2.0

4.0

6.0

8.0

10.0

12.0

%

Notes:Where 2011 data not available, earlier data used.Source: OECD Health Statistics 2013m Health at a Glance

Aus

tralia

Aus

tria

Bel

gium

Can

ada

Chi

le

Cze

ch R

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lic

Den

mar

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onia

Finl

and

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5.1

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8.1

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2.8

8.48.0 7.9

10.0

12.0

8.9

11.2

9.5

2.7

5.4

4.4

13.0

10.1

2.1

8.6

1.5

6.0

4.7

7.1

10.2

11.1

6.5

9.2

7.9

10.0

6.66.0

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

%

Notes:Source: OECD Social Expenditure, Social Expenditure, Aggregated data.

Public old age expenditure, as a percentage of gross national income, 2009

Aus

tralia

Aus

tria

Bel

gium

Can

ada

Chi

le

Cze

ch R

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lic

Den

mar

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%

%

19

MadamSpeaker,

AustraliansknowwhoIamandwhereIcomefrom.TheyknowIlovemyfamilyandthatIloveAustralia.

In1918myfather,attheageofnine,wenttoseeasilentmovie.Bythetimehewasfourteenhewasproducingandstarringinhisownmovies.Hewentontobecometheworld’syoungestmovieproducer,ashewasknowninHollywoodatthetime,intheUnitedStates.HereturnedtoAustraliatoestablishradiostation3AKinMelbourneandradio7UVinTasmania.PrimeMinisterLyons,oftheUnitedAustraliaParty,openedradio3AKandIstillhavetherecording.

MymotherwasborninPenguin,Tasmania,andleftin1940toworkinammunitionproductioninMelbourne.Familymembershaveservedthisnationinthefirstandsecondworldwars,somegivingtheirlivesforAustralianfreedom.Mynephew,SquadronLeaderMartinBrewster,servedwithINTERFETinTimorandallofthemhavedoneforAustraliamorethanIcouldeverdo.

LikehalfofallAustralians,Ilostmyfirstpartner,Sue.Herloveandourchildren,MichaelandEmily,sustainmeeveryday.Mywife,Anna,andmylovelyfive-year-olddaughter,ormiddlefiveasshesays,Mary,remindmeeverydayofwhatlifeisallabout;loveforeachotherandthelovewewillhaveforeachotherinthefuture.Ilookforwardtothecomingweeks,whenIwillagainbecomeafather,andIhaveastrongresolvetoserveournationandastrongresolvenottoletthepeopleofFairfaxdown.

Fairfaxhasbeentakenforgrantedformanyyears.MyelectionisaremindertothemajorpartiesthattheymusttrulyserveallAustralians.Ashasbeensaid,letusnotseektheLiberalanswerortheLaboranswer,buttherightanswer.Letusnotseektofixblameforthepastbutletusacceptourownresponsibilityforthefuture.Wemeettodayinacitywhichitselfhasreconciledourpeopleatdifficulttimesinthenation’shistory-acitythatinthislastcenturyhasbeenwitnesstothetrialsandtribulationsofourpeople-atatimewhenthenationlacksdirectionandneedstosetsailonanewcourse.

HowlongcanparliamentremainindifferenttotheneedsofallAustralians?Howlongcangovernment

bedeaftotheeverydaystrugglesofallAustralians?Theymustbeontopofthenationalagenda.Onthissmallspeckintheuniverse,planetEarth,wemustdoallthatwecantohelpeachother.Ourmainconcernneedstorestwithhowwecangrowandexpandoureconomyandcreatemorewealth;notwealthforthewealthybutforall,eventheleastamongus.Asawisemanoncesaidmanyyearsago,injusticetoamananywhereisaninjusticetoallmeneverywhere.

Welivetodayinanationwheretheroadsarenolongersafe,whereambulancesremovethecarnagefromourhighways,wheretheinfantmortalityrateofourIndigenouspeopleistwicethatoftheAustraliancommunity,wherethelifeexpectancyofmanyofourpooreranddowntroddencitizensislessthanitshouldbe,wherehealthservicesaredeclining,whereourelderlyandveteransareforgotten,wherethetyrannyofdistanceseparatesthehopesandtheaspirationsofremoteAustralia,andwherethedespairofthehomelessandunemployedrobsthenationoftheproductivityofourcitizens.Tasmanians,Ifoundoutduringourelectioncampaign,feelabandonedbymainlandAustralia.TheghostsoftheAnzacscallustoaction.

Tostimulateoureconomicactivity,wemustignitethecreativityofallourcitizens.ChairmanMaosaidalongtimeagothatwomenholduphalfthesky,yetwomenreceivedtheirvotein1902butprejudicestillremains.Leadership,notcomplacency,isourneedtoday.Inparliamentandincabinet,weneedmorewomen.

Thenationneedsastrongeconomywithefficientproduction.Australiastillhasatriple-Acreditrating.ThedeclineinQueensland’screditratinghasbeenfollowedbyadeclineinservices.Ourcitizensneedtoliveacivilisedlife.Governmentisnotaboutbusiness;itisaboutcreatingtheenvironmenttoallowalloureconomytoflourish,togrowrevenuetosustainthenation,andtoprovideincomeandsecuritytoallAustralians.

Confidenceislow.Ourstandardoflivinghasdeclined.Wemustuseourresourcesbetter.Wearenotprisonerstotheworldeconomy,helplesslyadriftinaseaofdespair.OurproblemshavebeenmadebyAustraliansandcanbesolvedbyAustralians.

In his maiden speech to the House of Representatives, Clive Palmer talks about family, his love for Australia and a vision for its future. 2 December 2013.

Maiden SpeechCLIVE PALMER IN PARLIAMENT

Weshouldnotacceptdefeatbyjustcuttingandslashing,lestthereaperreapmorethanhecansow.Borrowingtoavoidtheproblemandputoffthedayisnottherealsolution.Weneedinthisplaceandatthistimetosetanationalagendaforgrowth;agoalforallofus.

Whenthedaycomes,anditmostsurelywill,whencitizenselectedbythepeopletakeproperandfullresponsibilityforthewelfareoftheirfellowcitizensandwhenwetreatotherAustraliansaswewouldwantthemtotreatus,thenwecansurelyknowthatwedoGod’swill.

Publicservicehasnorewardotherthantheserviceofothers.Itisthelegacyweleavefuturegenerations.Historyisourrealjudge.Letusworktogethernotasopponentsinthisplacebutascolleaguesjoinedbytimeandspacetoservethenationwelove.

Australianshavelosthopeinthefuture.Changeiscertain.Successreflectsourabilitytoadapttothatchange.Itisnotindividuals’personalitiesthatareimportant.Itisnotdemeaningcommentsaboutthosewhositoppositeyouthatareimportant.Afterall,allofusinthisplacehavemerelyofferedourlivestoserveandthechallengeisreallywhatwecandotomakelifebetterforourfellowAustralians.

Atthelastelection,thePalmerUnitedPartywon5.5%ofthevote,becomingAustralia’sfourthlargestparty.ThePrimeMinisteronlybecamePrimeMinisterbecausethecoalitionreceivedthePalmerpreferences.

PalmerUnitedoutpolledtheNationalParty.PalmerUnitedelectedonemember,me,totheHouseofRepresentativesandthreesenators,onlytofindourlastsenatordeniedhispositionintheSenatebytheAEClosingtheballotboxesinWesternAustralia.PalmerUnitedandthemotoristswillholdthebalanceofpowerintheSenate.

InWesternAustraliaourpollingisshowingthatwecanwintwosenatorsifanelectionisheldtoday.InFairfax,PalmerUnitedreceivedoneofthelargestswingsinthenation’shistory,of50.3%.ThatiswhyIamhere.

TheMurdochNewspollshowed‘others’asbeing12.4%recently,buttheydidnotlistPalmerUnited.Ithinkwemustbeinthe‘others’.Ourrecentpollinghasshownwearenowpollingatabout10%ofthenation,nearlytwiceasmuchasthevotewereceivedatthelastelection.ManyAustraliansbelievedthatavoteforPalmerwasawastedvote.Nowourpartyvotehassolidified.Iwanttothankallthe150candidateswhostoodineveryseatavailableintheHouseofRepresentatives,ourSenateteamsandourpartymembersineverystateandeveryterritory.

PoliticalcourageisoneoftherarestcommoditiesandinQueenslandourstateleader,DrAlexDouglas,andhisdeputy,CarlJudge,defendfreedomandtherightsofindividualsbeforeadifficultparliamentandinanimpossiblesituation.TheyareputtingtherightsofAustraliansandprinciplebeforepoliticalexpediency,alessonwecanalllearn.Theentrenchmentofthetwo-partysysteminthiscountrynotonlythreatensdemocracybutdestroysthecreativityofthenation.Itrobsfromallofusthebenefitofeachother’sideasandinnovations.

TheforwardestimatesinAugust2013projectedprovisionaltaxreceiptsfor2014wouldexceed$70billion.Insteadofmakingourcompaniesandbusinessespaythistaxquarterlyinadvancebasedonanestimate,weneedtoletthempayityearlybasedonwhattheyactuallyearn.Ifwekeep$70billioninenterprises’handsthentheycanspenditbetterthanthegovernment.Australiawillcreaterealdemand,massivejobgrowthandreducedunemployment.Wewillturbo-chargeoureconomy.If$70billionisspentbyindividualtaxpayers,thegovernmentgets10percentGST.Thegovernmentgets$7billioneverytime

20

In Coolum with former New Zealand Prime Minister Jenny Shipley and 10 other heads of state who are now members of the World Leadershp AllianceDelivering a speech in the House

How long can government be deaf to the everyday struggles of all Australians? They must be top of the national agenda

Dinner in New York with my wife Anna and former US President Bill Clinton

itisspentbyourcitizens,andthegovernmentwillreceivethe$70billionattheendofeachyear.Morehospitalsandschools,arisingstandardoflivingandincreasedwealthandrevenuemeanwecanmakeAustralians’livesbetter.Atcurrentinterestratesitwouldcostaround$800millionayear,butitwillgeneratebillionseachyearforthenation.Wehavetostimulatedomesticdemand.

Thegovernmentisthetoppetitionerofbankruptcyandliquidations,andasaresultourbusinessesclose,ouremployeeslosetheirjobsandweloseoutasanation.Welosegrouptax,companytax,exports,GSTandjobs.Stopgovernmentdrivingbusinessestothewall.Letpeoplestayemployed.Transferringpeoplefromgainfulemploymenttounemploymentjustguaranteesmiseryforallofus.Findabetterway,suchasChapter11intheUnitedStates.TheUSGovernmentdonotpetitionbankruptcies;theystimulatetheeconomy.Thelossofoneyear’sincomeduetounemploymentismorethanitcostsforfiveyearsofeducationathighschool.Toneglecteducationperformanceisnotonlybadpolicybutbadeconomics.

OurArmy,NavyandAirForcepersonnelprotectanddefendusall.Wemustlinkallservicepensionstomaletotalaverageearningsandexpandgoldcardbenefitstopeacekeepersandtospousesofourverybraveveterans.WeneedtosupportregionalAustraliabyintroducingzonaltaxation.Regionalareasneeddoctorsandprofessionalstogrow.RegionalindustriesbenefitallofAustralia.Wehavetoendthisdiscriminationoverregionalindustriesandallowthemtocompeteininternationalmarkets.

IfAustraliansaresatisfiedthatwhattheirgovernmentisdoingnowisadequateforAustraliaandourfuture,Australianscanaccepttheirlot.Butif,asIdo,theyseeAustralia’sfutureasdoingmorethanwehavedonesofar-expandingoureconomy,notcuttingandnotborrowingbutlookingtogrowthenationthatwelove-thegovernmentshouldgiveeveryonethesupporttohaveanagendaofgrowthandenterpriseforthisnation.Thenationhasthestrengthandthepotentialtoliveoutitsheritageandtofulfilthe

dreamsoftheAnzacs,toturnAustraliaintotheluckycountry,torestoreoureconomyandtoreclaimournationalheritage.Manypeoplesaytheycarebuttheyreallydonot.Parliamentshouldbeabouttheneedsofothers,butsometimesitisnot.

InQueensland,theMulgaisdying.Droughtandfloodhavecombinedtowreakhavoconfamiliesofthatregion.Howcanwenotact?Howcanwecomplainaboutanimalwelfareoverseaswhenweletthousandsofcattledieaslowandpainfuldeath?HowcanweletAustralianfamiliessuffer?ArewesoindifferenttotheneedsofourfellowAustralians?ItisourresponsibilityinthisplacetobethelastsentryatthegatetoprotecttherightsandfreedomsofallAustralians,regardlessofthepartytheybelongto.Australianeedsarevolutioninthewaywethinkandinthewayweboostourwealthandoureconomyforthebenefitofallourcitizens.Wehavetore-establishconfidence.Weneedtobelievewecanliftoureconomytoabetterfuture.Weneedtohaveapositiveattitude.Wemaynotgetthere,butnothingissurerthanwewillfailifwedonotprojectapositiveagendaforthenationinapositivemanner.

Publicserviceandpoliticallifemustbethehighestcalling.Thecatchcryofthisplaceneedstoberespectforideas.Greatdebatedemandsitsvictimandtruthistheonlywinner.Weareallwinnerswhentruthprevailsoverinjustice.Thecontentofourindividualcharactersismoreimportantthanhowmuchmoneywehave.Weneedtopraisetheincorruptibilityofourpublicofficials,theintegrityofourmarriagesandtheworthofourpeople.Itisideasthatmatter.Governmentsmaycomeandgo,butideasgoonforever.Itisideasthatwillshapethisnation.Itisideasthatwillendurethroughtime.

Wearegoneandforgotteninhistory,incommerceandinpolitics.Itisideasthatcapturetheconscienceofthenation.Itisideasthatendurewhenallelseisgone.Letusunitetoservethenationwelove,todiscoverthefuture,toshareourtrialsandtribulations,toovercomeadversity,topulltogetherforourcommongoodundertheSouthernCrossandtoknow,asagreatmansaid,thatonthisearthGod’sworkmusttrulybeourown.

In Coolum with Roza Otunbayeva, former President of Kyrgyzstan & Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga, former President of LatviaOn the campaign trail in Tasmania Outside Parliament House, Canberra

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During the second reading of the Higher Education Bill, Clive Palmer restates his position in no uncertain terms that the Palmer United Party will maintain its position and block the unpopular legislation in the Senate. 11 February 2015.

Higher Education Bill

Icomeheretodayfullofadmirationfortheeducationministerandhisconfidenceintheeducationhehimselfhasenjoyed,whichhastakenhimandputhimonapedestalforallAustralianstolookuptointhisparliament.Ithasgivenhimtheopportunitytobringforthhisideasforustoconsideranddiscuss.

IcomeheretoowithadmirationfortheTreasurer,whohasgonetouniversity,toiledthroughhisuniversitycareerandcomeheresothenationcanenjoythebenefitsofthateducation.ButI,liketheTreasurerandtheMinisterforEducation,wasthebeneficiaryofrealreformsintheeducationsectormadebyEdwardGWhitlamwhenhewasPrimeMinisterofthiscountry.

TheTreasurerdidnotpayforhiseducation,nordidtheMinisterforEducation.Theyneverwouldhavegottothisplacewithoutauniversityeducation;theyneverwouldhavehadtheopportunity.

Thecostofoneyear’sunemploymentisfargreaterthanthecostofeducatingsomeonefromprimaryschoolthroughtohighschoolfor12years.Agoodeducationpolicyisnotonlygoodsocialpolicy,itisgoodeconomicpolicy.Thiscountrybenefitsbycapturingitsresourcesandtherearenogreaterresourcestobecapturedforthebenefitofthenationthantheintellectofitscitizens.

Intellectisnotdistributedevenlyacrosssociety.Itisnotameasureofhowmuchmoneyyoumayhaveorwhatyourprospectsmaybebutofwhatyoucancontributetothenation.NoAustralian,wherevertheymaycomefrom,shouldbehandicappedfromgoingtouniversity.Ihaveafriendwhosedaughterrecentlygraduatedfromuniversityandnowhasfouryears’debt.Shecannotbuyahome-sheisnewlymarried,

butshehastoslogawayforfouroreightyearsbeforeshecangetahousingloan.

Whenyouare23or24,thatisthemostimportanttimeofyourlifefortakingrisks,beingboldandtakinginitiatives.WehaveseenwhathashappenedintheUnitedStateswithGoogle,Apple,andFacebook- awholelotofinnovations.Dowereallywantouryoungpeopletoleaveuniversityandbesaddledwithdebt?Tobesoconservativethattheyaretoofrightenedtothink,totakerisksandtostimulateoureconomy?Becausethatiswhatthisbilldoes.Itcreatesmoreandmorecostsforstudents,thepeoplewhocanleastaffordit.

Itsapstheircreativity.Ittakesfromthemtheopportunityforthewholenationtobenefitfromtheirendeavoursatatimeintheirlifewhentheycouldmakearealdifference.ThePrimeMinisterhasrecentlysaid,inthelasttwodays,thattherehasbeenafundamentalchangeintheLiberalParty-afundamentalchangeinthegovernment.Hesaidtheyaregoingtolistentowhatishappening.

Well,theyarenotlisteningtothepeopleofAustralia.TheyarenotlisteningtotheSenate.TheyarewastingtheirtimeintheHouseofRepresentativesbecauseonlyanidiotexpectstogetadifferentoutcomewhilerepeatedlydoingthesamethingtimeaftertime.HowmanytimesdoestheSenatehavetorejectthislegislationbeforethegovernmentgetsthemessage?

Themessageis;thislegislationwillnotpasstheSenate.Thislegislationisthrough,finished,woundup.EveryoneofoursenatorsintheSenatewillvoteno.Theywillnottakeanamendment.TheywillnottakeacompromisebecausetheybelievetherighttoafairandpropereducationistheindeliblerightofallAustralians.Therightofourpeopletoenjoyabetterandrisingstandardoflivingisfundamentaltotheirwelfare,anditistothebenefitofournation.

Whatisallthisabout?Itisaboutalie.ItisaboutsayingthatAustraliahastoomuchdebt.Weknowthatourdebtisonly12percentofourGDP.WeknowthatwhenBobMenzieswasPrimeMinisterofthiscountry,ourdebtwas40percentofourGDP.WeknowthatourcountryhasthethirdlowestdebtintheOECD.Weareoneofonly13nationsthathasaAAAcreditratingyetwearesupposedtobehavinganeconomiccrisis.

CLIVE PALMER IN PARLIAMENT

With the President of French Polynesia, Mr Oscar Temaru in Coolum

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TheTreasurercomesoutthismorning.HesaystotheLiberalPartythathehastopursuehiscuts-hehastopursueausterityinthiscountry.IntheUnitedStates,PresidentObamahasstimulatedtheeconomy.Hecreatedrealgrowth.IthasbeensosuccessfulthattheEuropeanUnionhasdonethesamething.

WelookaroundtheworldandfindUzbekistanandGhana,twocountrieswithabalancedbudget.WelookattheUnitedStates’economyandseethatforthelast50yearsitonlyhad12yearswithabalancedbudget.ArewegoingtofollowtheUzbekistanimodelinoureconomyandbalanceourbudget,whateverthatmeans,orarewegoingtogoforprosperity,forgrowth,forastrongeconomyandfollowtheleadoftheUnitedStatesofAmerica?

Whatarewegoingtodo?Arewegoingtospiraldown?Itellyouwhat,ifthesecutscontinue,theywilldestroydemandinthiscountry,theywillcollapsetheeconomyandwewillnevergetthebudgetbacktosurplus,becauseitisonlythroughgrowthcreatingrealwealththatyoucanreallysupportoureconomy,supportwhatwehavegot.

So,ratherthansayingthatwearegoingtocut,let’sacceptthechallengetomakethiscountrystronger,better.Let’sbelieveinourselves,thatwecancreategreatergrowthandgreaterprosperityforAustralia.Whydoesthegovernmentgoawayfromthechallengethatpreviousgovernmentshaveaccepted-toprovideabetterstandardoflivingforAustralians?IsitthatwebelieveourmembersofthisHousedonothavethesamecapability,thesametalentasthosewhowentbeforethemtomaintainthefighttokeepAustraliagrowing?

Isitbecausewewanttogiveup?Andwhydoweneedtocontinuallyincreasetaxesandintroduceleviesandfeesthatotherpeoplepay?Can’tthisgovernmentbeasefficientasthelastandtheonebeforeitandtheonebeforethat?Arewegoingtocontinuallysinkinaholeofnon-performance,negligenceandincompetence?Thisbillwillnotbecomelaw.ItwillnotgothroughtheSenate.Itwastesthetaxpayers’moneybyhavingitconsideredinthisHouseyetagain.ItisjustasignofthepoliticalprocesswhereanarrogantattitudeisprevailinginthegovernmentandtheythinktheycanpasslegislationthroughthisHousewithoutanydiscussionorconsultation.

WehaveseeninQueenslandwhathappenstoanarrogantattitude.Thisisatimeforthegovernmenttochange,tolisten,toadjustitspoliciesforwhatisbestforallAustralians.Iftheycontinuedownthispath,theywillbedefeatedatthenextelection.Let’sfaceit,withoutourpreferences,theywouldnotbeherenow.AndtherealityofitistheydonothavethesupportoftheAustralianpeople.Weonlyhavetovisituniversitiesandtalktothestudents,discussing

withthemthedifficultiestheyhaveevencopingwiththelargelevelsofdebtthatburdenthemandwhichtakeawaytheircreativity,knowingthatthatjustwillnothappen.Whatweneedinthiscountryismorecompassionandarealunderstandingofhowtheeconomyworks,toknowhowimportanteducationisintheeconomicprocessandtoknowwhatopportunitymeansasanAustralian,tobenefitfromourassets.

Weneedtoknowthatyoucannotbuysuccessinthiscountry.Youcannotbuysuccessbyjusthavingalotofmoneyandgoingtothebestuniversityifyouhavenotgotthebrainstopassit,ifyoudonothavetheabilitytocompete.

Shouldn’tweinAustraliahopethatallAustralianscompeteonalevelfootingsowegettheverybestpeoplethroughouruniversities?IfwegotoJapan,ChinaandotherpartsofAsia,weseethewholecountrycompetesineducationperformancetogettheseplaces.Whydowewanttostiflecompetition?Whydowewanttosaythatyouhavetohaveenoughmoneytogotouniversity?

Whydowedenypeoplewhodonothaveenoughmoneytogotouniversity?Iwasthebeneficiaryofafreeeducationandafreeuniversityeducation.IhaveproducedmoremoneyforthiscountrythananymemberinthisHouse-thatisthefactofthematter-andIwouldnothavedoneitwithoutGoughWhitlam’ssupportandafreeeducationwhenIwas20,becauseIcouldnotaffordtogotouniversity.Billionsofdollarsofexportswouldhavebeenlosttothiscountry.Thatisthehardreality.

YoupeoplesithereanddenyopportunityforAustralianstocompeteinoureconomy,tobealltheycouldbe.Ithinkitisagreatdisgrace.Anditisirrelevant;thisbillisgoingnowhere.

This is a time for the government to change, to listen, to adjust its policies for what is best for all Australians

Clive Palmer defeating the Education Bill in Parliament

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BeforethelastelectionMalcolmFraserandIhadlunchinMelbourne.WhenImethimonthatcoldMelbournemorninghewasinhighspirits,eagertoengageindebateaboutimportantissuesaffectingAustralia’sfuture.

Highonhismindthatmorningandoverlunchwasthethreattotheworld,andAustralia,ofwar.Hestatedthattheworldhadbeenatwarforover50yearsindifferentpartsoftheglobeandhewonderedwhenitwouldallstop.

HewasastrongsupporterofdevelopmentandsustainablegrowthandsaidasPrimeMinister:“Developmentrequiresmodificationandtransformationoftheenvironment.Theplanet’scapacitytosupportitspeopleisirreversiblyreducedbythedestructionanddegradationofthebiosphereandtheneedtounderstandtheproblemandtakecorrectiveactionisbecomingurgent.”

Hesawthedangerstoourplanetfarbeforeothershadthoughtabouttheissue.InhistravelsaroundAustraliaasPrimeMinisterhetouchedthepeopleandtheytouchedhim.

Hevaluedourdemocracyandremindedusin1980asourPrimeMinisterthat“SecrecyiscompletelyinadequatefordemocracybuttotallyappropriateforTyranny.”

AsMalcolmFraseroncesaidwhenreferringtoNelsonMandela,“IfthereweresixNelsonMandelasaroundtoday,acoupleinEurope,oneinAmericaandinacoupleofotherplaces,therewouldn’tbeanywars.”

Thetruthis,ifthereweresixMalcolmFrasersaroundtoday,acoupleinEurope,oneinAmericaandina

coupleofotherplaces,therewouldn’tbeanywars.

LikemanyworldleadershehelpedNelsonMandelaonhislongwalktofreedom.

HesupportedtheSouthAfricanpeopleintheirstruggleforhumanrightsandself-determination.

Nogreateraccoladecanbegiventoanyman,nogreatertitleoracknowledgement,thanthatofpeacemaker.

MalcolmFraserbelievedinthereconciliationofman.Hesoughtrefugeforthestateless.Hesawinjusticeandhetriedtostopit.Hesawdivisioninthiscountryandhetriedtohealit.Hedevotedhislifetothoselessfortunatethanhimself.

Giftedinintelligence,heperceivedandsawwhatotherscouldnotsee.HesawanAustraliawhereallAustralianchildrencouldjoinhandsandtakethatlongwalktogetherintothefuture.

HesawanAustraliawhereallculturesoftheworldcouldbeunitedinonecountryvaluingtheirheritageandembracingeachotherinonenation.

Hiswordsin1981duringhisinauguraladdresstotheInstituteofMulticulturalAffairsareequallytruetoday.

“Multiculturalismspeakstousforcefullyanddirectly;itisnotanabstractoraliennotion,notablueprintholdingoututopianpromises,butasetofguidelinesforactionwhichgrowsdirectlyoutofoursociety,aspirationsandexperiences.”

Whileunderstatedandmodestinhismanner,hewasstrongoncourageandcommitment.Oneoftherarestcommoditiesinpoliticallifeiscourage.

Following the death of former Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser, Clive Palmer Palmer delivered a moving and insightful speech paying tribute to the life and influence of a great Australian. 25 March 2015.

Vale Rt Hon Malcolm Fraser

Listening to the concerns of Australians

Interview wtih leading businesswoman & good friend Sarina Russo at the Fairfax Festival Weekend in Coolum

Thumbs up at the National Press Club in Canberra after appearance number five

CLIVE PALMER IN PARLIAMENT

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Politicalcourage,theabilitytodowhatisrightregardlessofthecost,regardlessofadmonishment,togoforwardwhereotherswouldnotgo.

Heshowedusthewayandwemustfollowhisexampleandcherishthegiftshehasleftforusascitizensofthisgreatcountry.

Irememberbackintheearly80swhennostatewasinterestedinhostingExpo88.ItwasMalcolmFraserwhohadthepersistencetostaywithittogothecoursetocontinuetofightfortheExpotobeheldinAustraliaandthethenQueenslandPremierSirJohagreedwiththePrimeMinistertoholditinQueensland.WithoutMalcolmFraser’spersistencethepeopleofBrisbanewouldnothaveBrisbane’sSouthBanktodayandAustralianswouldnothaveenjoyedExpo88.

IrememberanothertimewhenSirJoh’sstaffflewbacktoQueenslandafteraPremiers’ConferenceandlefttheQueenslandPremiersleepingintheLakesideHotel.TheygottotheQueenslandborderwhentheyrememberedtheyhadleftthePremierinCanberra.TheycontactedthePrimeMinister’sOfficewhoneverhesitatedinofferingtheQueenslandPremierthehospitalityofTheLodge.

AsSirJohtoldme,hearrivedatTheLodgeandthePrimeMinisterevenofferedhimapairofhispyjamas.MalcolmFraserwasquiteabittallerthanSirJohandSirJohsaidthatashewalkedaroundhehadtoholduphispyjamapantssotheywouldnotfalloffandhisfeetonlywentdowntowhereMalcolm’skneeswere.

DuringthenightSirJohwenttothekitchentogetadrink,openedthefridgeandalightcameon,atwhichtimesecuritychallengedhimandhehelduphisarms.Heremarkedtomethatsecuritygotquiteasurprise.SirJohremarkedtometherewerenotmanypeoplewhowouldgivetheirownpyjamas,butMalcolmFraserwould.

ForMalcolmFraser‘lifewasn’tmeanttobeeasy’.

ButforMalcolmFraseritcouldhavebeen.Hechosehisownwayfreely.Hechosealifeofservice.Hechosethehardway;themoredifficultroad.

Heshouldnotbecomegreateratthistimethanhewasinlife.AnAustralianwhowaspreparedtogiveallfortheserviceofhiscountryandtoweatherthestormnomatterhowdifficult,nomatterhowhard,withoutcomplaint.

Hisintegritywasbeyondquestionashesaidhimself,‘Flexibilityinpursuitofthenation’sinterestsmustneverbeallowedtodegenerateintoexpediency.’

Hishumilitymovedthosewhocametoknowhiminlife.Hebelievedinourpeopleandallthepeopleoftheregionandtheworld.Hebroughtpeaceandfoughtforthosewhosufferedundertheyokeofracism.

Inmydiscussionwithhimitwasclearhehadapuremind,butmoreimportantlyhehadapureheart.Iextendmysincerecondolencestohisfamily.TheworldissomuchbetterbecauseofMalcolmFraser;acitizenoftheworldwhocared.

Asithasbeensaid,hewillstandtothoseofuswhoareleftasanincarnationofthespiritofthelandheloved.

OneofthosewithwhomIdiscussedMalcolmFraserinthelastcoupleofdayssaidhewasabigmanwithhissix-foot-plusframe.Forpeoplewhohadnevermethimbeforehewasabigman,biggerthanmanyrealised.

AllofourlivesareenrichedforhavinglivedonthisearthinthetimeofMalcolmFraser.

Ready for another day in ParliamentPress conference in the Senate GardensOn ‘Kitchen Cabinet’ with Annabel Crabb at home in Coolum

Malcolm Fraser believed in the reconciliation of man. He sought refuge for the stateless. He saw injustice and tried to stop it. He saw division in this country and tried to heal it. He devoted his life to those less fortunate

26

Question to the Prime Minister on Parliament House security, 4 December 2013

“FollowingtherevelationsintheSenateinNovemberthatthedataofuptofivemembersofparliamentarebeingaccessed,areanycrossbenchmembers,includingme,havingtheirphonesandtheiremailstappedorinterceptedbyanyCommonwealthorstateagency,orisanyforeigngovernmentdoingthistogivethegovernmentplausibledenial?Areourparliamentaryofficesbugged?”

Question to the Treasurer on the United States’ economy, 26 February 2014

“TheUSeconomyleadstheworldwithitseconomicstrength,growthandexports.IunderstandthatEquatorialGuineaandUzbekistanhavethelowestdebtlevelsintheworld.IsthegovernmentseekingtofollowtheUSmodelforgrowthandjobsorareweseekingtofollowUzbekistanandEquatorialGuineatoachievetheirstandardofliving?WhenwasthelasttimetheUShadasurplus?HowmanysurpluseshastheUShadinthelast50years?IstheUSeconomy,withitsmilitaryandeconomicpre-eminence,sustainable?”

Question to the Prime Minister on taxation, 5 March 2014

“ThecarbontaxandtheminingtaxremovalarekeytotheresurgenceoftheAustralianeconomy.Whyhasthegovernmentnotremovedorproposedtheirremovalfromthedaytheywereelected?IsitnottruethatonlyPalmerUnitedcanremovethesetaxesandbreakthegridlockintheSenate?WhywouldWesternAustralianvotersvotefortheLiberalPartywhentheycannotdeliverontheirpromises?WesternAustraliansmustvoteforPalmerUnitedintheSenate,asonlyPalmerUnitedcanremovethecarbonandminingtaxes.Doyouagree,PrimeMinister?”

Question to the Treasurer on Goods & Services Tax, 24 March 2014

“TheGSTreimbursesstatesforlossesofrevenuethroughtheabolitionofstatetaxes.WhydotheAustralianandWesternAustraliangovernmentsallowGSTraisedinWesternAustraliatobespentineasternstates?Regardless,whydoesn’tWesternAustraliareceivealltheGSTraisedinWesternAustralia?Has

thelossofGSTcausedWesternAustraliatoloseitsAAArating?DotheLiberalPartyandtheLaborPartycaremoreabouttheseatsineasternstates?”

Question to the Treasurer on the Federal Budget, 14 May 2014

“WilltheTreasurersupportchangestoallparliamentarysuperschemessothatmembersofparliamentdonotreceivetheirsuperannuationpaymentsuntiltheyreachthesameageasAustralia’sentitlementfortheoldagepension?”

Question to the Treasurer on the Federal Budget, 29 May 2014

“Astheworldknows,theaveragedebtintheOECDforadvancedeconomiesis73percentofGDP.AccordingtotheOECDandtheParliamentaryLibrary,Australia’sdebtis12.1percentofGDP.Howcanthegovernmentjustifytherepressivemeasuresithasintroducedinthebudget,includingtheco-paymentfordoctorvisits,whichpensioners,youngpeopleandsinglemotherscannotaffordtopay,andtheabandonmentofyoungpeopleunder30yearsofage?Whydoesn’ttheAustraliangovernmenttellthepeoplethetruth?”

Question to the Prime Minister on carbon pricing, 16 June 2014

“DoesPresidentObamafavouranemissionstradingscheme?Ifso,why?DidyoutellPresidentObamatheincreaseinexciseindexationwasreallyacarbontax?WhyisthegovernmenttaxingAustraliansoncarbonwhenAustraliansvotedagainstit?WhydoQueenslandandWesternAustraliaweartheburdenofthenationforcarbontax?”

Question to the Prime Minister on the Federal Budget, 24 June 2014

“HasthePrimeMinisterconsideredspending$8billioncoveringblackspotsontheinternettosave$36billion,savinganother$20billionbyscrappingpaidparentalleave,savinganother$2.5billionbyscrappingDirectActionandbuyingoursubmarinesratherthandevelopingthemtosaveanother$20billion?Whydoesthegovernmentwanttopenaliseitspeople?Whydon’tyoudoyourjob?”

Clive Palmer takes every opportunity available to him during Question Time to take the government to task on their policies and direction for Australia. Below are just some of the issues he has addressed for Australians.

Question TimeCLIVE PALMER IN PARLIAMENT

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Question to the Treasurer on taxation, 16 July 2014

“WhydoesthegovernmentrequireallAustralianbusinessesandenterprisestopayprovisionaltaxbeforeanyprofitisearned?Thistaxstopsbusinessusingtheirowncashtogrow,employpeople,expandtheeconomyandexporttostimulatethenation.HowcanalowtaxationpartyliketheLiberalPartygovernmentnoteliminatetherequirementtopaytaxbeforeprofitisearned?”

Question to the Minister for Health on the Federal Budget, 1 September 2014

“AsmostAustraliansareagainsttheco-payment,PalmerUnited,theGreensandLaborhavenowformallydeclaredwaragainstit.Thereisnoprospectofitbecominglaw.WhydoesthegovernmentpersistinunderminingbusinessconfidencebynotputtingforwardproposalsthathavethesupportoftheAustralianpeopleandbyputtingforwardproposalsthatwillneverhappen?Dotheywanttofrightenpeopleorunderminebusinessconfidence?”

Question to the Treasurer on the Federal Budget, 23 September 2014

“UnderthatgreatLiberalPrimeMinisterandfounderoftheLiberalParty,SirRobertMenzies,theAustralianeconomyhadadebtlevelof40percentofGDP.Whydoesthegovernmentseektoshrinkthemoneysupplyanddomesticdemandwhenourdebtlevelisonly12percentofGDPandtheaverageOECDcountry’sdebtlevelis73percentofGDPandAustraliahasaAAAcreditrating?”

Question to the Prime Minister on Paid Parental Leave, 28 October 2014

“Ifwewantwomentofullyparticipateintheworkforceweneedtoallowthemtodoso.PaidParentalLeaveonlydealswiththeimmediateafterbirthneeds.Childcarehasthewiderresponsibilityoffreeingwomentobealltheycanbe.PalmerUnitedsenatorswillnotallowPaidParentalLeavetopasstheSenate.WillthegovernmentgivetheresourcesallocatedforPaidParentalLeavetochildcareandsetwomenfree?Whyisitthatthegovernmentseekstointroduce1950sLiberalPartypolicy?IsitGroundhogDay?”

Question to the Treasurer on government debt, 23 February 2015

“Ifprojectedgovernmentdebtcontinuesfor50years,Australia’sdebtasapercentageofGDPwillbelessthantheOECDaveragetodayandlessthantheUS,theUKandJapantoday.SowhydestroyAustralia’slivingstandardswithausterity?HastheTreasurermisledtheAustraliancommunity?Whynottellthe

truth,Treasurer,andsaveyourcolleagueswhileyoucanfromNewman’sfate?”

Question to the Prime Minister on Liberal Party financial accounts, 3 March 2015

“Wherehasthe$70millioncontributedbypublicfundsandmembersofthepublicbeenspent?WhydoesyourpresidentanddirectoroftheLiberalPartyrefusetoprovidetheparty’sfinancialaccountstothevice-presidentsofthepartyandthenationalexecutives?”

Question to the Prime Minister on preferential voting, 25 March 2015

“DoesthegovernmentplantointroduceoptionalpreferentialvotingintheSenateelections,whichwillguarantee38senatorsandeliminatemostofthecrossbench,sothegovernmentcanrequirethecrossbenchtopassallgovernmentlegislationorthreatenthemwithanearlyelection?Willthismeanthegovernment,withcrossbenchsupport,canintroduceoptionalpreferentialvotingintheHouseofRepresentatives?”

Question to the Deputy Prime Minister on corporate governance, 12 May 2015

“WhyistheCommonwealththenumberonepetitionerofbankruptcyandliquidationsinAustralia,closingbusinessesdownandmovingpeoplefromproductiveemploymenttounemployment?Whydoesn’tthegovernmentintroduceachapter11provisionsimilartotheUS,where85percentofcompaniesinchapter11emergetokeeppeopleemployed,exportsgoingandgovernmentrevenueflowing?WillthegovernmentleadandintroducesuchameasureforAustralia?”

Question to the Treasurer on the Federal Budget, 27 May 2015

“Ifcompaniesarenotmakingaprofit,howistheeconomystimulatedbytaxcutsforsmallbusiness?Ifabusinessdiesanddoesnothavethecapital,howcanitbenefitfromataxwrite-off?Shouldwenotbestimulatingdemandbyincreasingthemoneysupplyandbyreorganisinggovernment,toboostdemandsothatbusinesscanachieveaprofitandaconfidentAustralia?”

How can the government justify repressive budget measures like the GP co-payment, which pensioners, young people and single mothers cannot afford?

Authorised by Clive Palmer, Member for Fairfax, 17 Southern Drive, Maroochydore, QLD 4558

FEDERAL MEMBER FOR FAIRFAX

CLIVE PALMER MP

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

PARLIAMENT of AUSTRALIA

@CliveFPalmer www.facebook.com/ClivePalmerMP

• StoppedtheGPCo-Payment.

• Stoppednegativechangestouniversities.

• Stopped$10billioncutstosocialsecurity.

• Freedover436childrenandfamiliesfromdetention.

• Freed1,500peopleintotalfromChristmasIsland.

• Resolvedover30,000casesindetention.

• Introducedthe(SHEV)SafeHavenEnterpriseVisa.

• SavedtheLowIncomeSuperforovertwomillionAustralians.

• KepttheSchoolkidsBonus.

• KeptLowIncomeSupport.

• Reducedelectricitypricesby10%Australia-wide.

• Made15changestoDirectActioninSenateAmendmentsthenpassedDirectAction.

• SavedtheClimateChangeAuthority.

• SavedtheCleanEnergyFinanceCorporation.

• SavedARENA(AustralianRenewableEnergyAuthority).

• SavedRET(RenewableEnergyTarget).

• Fixedpensionsforallveteransandex-servicemenandwomenover55.

• StoppedCampbellNewman.

• Setupthreeparliamentaryinquiriesinto:-

- TradeInvestmentandGrowth.

- AustraliaFund.

- QueenslandGovernment.

• AbolishedCarbonTax.

• AbolishedMiningTax.

• IntroducedthePrivateMember’sBillonForeignDeathPenalty.

• Protectedmaritimeworkers’jobs.

• ProvedthatgovernmentandcommunitydebtwasnotaproblemforAustralia.

• Cabinetadoptedourpolicytobanlobbyistsfrompartypositions.

• StoppedGrainCorpsaleandintroducedPrivateMember’sBill.

• Electoralreform-pensinsteadofpencils.

• KeptQantasAustralian-owned.

• Stoppedchangestoincometax-freethreshold.

• Stoppedfinancialincentivetosellpublicassets.

• SavedAustralianjobsinoffshoregasindustry.

• Stoppedslashingofuniversityresearchgrants.

ACHIEVEMENTS