I have been shocked to hear that some locals may vote for Clive Palmer, the mining billionaire who intends to buy the next election through spending mega millions on advertising, and spin on policy.
Think twice – we may have our very own Trump clone ruling the nation through balance of power or even, as he intends – forming government! Just like Trump he is promising ‘to do politics differently’ and make ‘Australia Great’. Yet in his previous forays into government he became known for doing the opposite of what he promised and for falling asleep in and not attending most government sittings.
Famous for last minute, high drama, chaotic, contradictory negotiations that played to the media and made no sense – just like Trump – his senators ended up leaving his party.
He would attend the chambers I am sure in order to get approval for his proposed open cut coal mine north-west of Rockhampton. This is next to wetlands that feed into the waters of the Great Barrier Reef. It will produce 10 million tonnes of coal per year, involves developing Abbot Point into the largest coal export facility in the world. It will only employ 250 people because of automation, compared to the 57,000 now employed in Great Barrier Reef tourism.
The WA premier has described Palmer as an Olympic-scale narcissist and his reputation is one of leaving a trail of destruction and shattered lives in the wake of his corrupt and failed business projects. His hobby is drawn-out litigation, and in some cases he has not paid his workers millions due to them in wages and entitlements. Initially taxpayers had to pick up the bill, until he was legally mandated to meet his responsibilities.
In 2020 he was summoned to ongoing court proceedings in Brisbane on charges of fraud and other corruption. Please don’t vote for Trump Palmer when the time comes!
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
