news, local-news, Clive Palmer, Palmer United Party, PUP, byelection, Jennifer Stefanac, Suellen Wrightson
IN the World According to Clive Palmer, there is no Labor or Liberal. One is ‘The Eddie Obeid Party’ and the other is, well, ‘The Other Party’. And then there is Susan. Susan is actually Suellen. Suellen Wrightson, one of the two independents Mr Palmer’s Palmer United Party is backing in Saturday’s Newcastle and Charlestown byelections. Twice at the start of Mr Palmer’s press conference in Newcastle yesterday, Suellen, standing beside him, got Susan. She didn’t appear ruffled, but was probably grateful when the Herald corrected the record on her behalf. Then there was Got Wifflam, our recently-departed former prime minister, and questions from the media which got totally unrelated answers. Maybe billionaires just talk that way. Maybe that’s why Mr Palmer is gathering the political momentum he is, because people know what he means, even if he doesn’t. With his private jet parked safely at Williamtown for the second day running, Mr Palmer spent Thursday campaigning in the two seats he hopes his candidates can deliver on Saturday. There is a bigger prize, however. There was no mincing of words when it came to the full state election next March. The Palmer United Party wants the balance of power in the state’s upper house, just as it’s been able to achieve in Canberra. Since the party’s reasonably solid Hunter showing in last year’s federal poll, he knows the Hunter is home to many people who nod in agreement when he talks about the major parties leaving Newcastle behind. ‘‘The Hunter has been neglected by all parties for 100 years yet it has been a great contributor to the country for 100 years,’’ he said. ‘‘All in all it’s been forgotten by the major parties. It’s time to stand up for the Hunter and recognise what it’s got and what it can achieve. ‘‘We will make the national news on Saturday night when they see our vote,’’ he predicted. ‘‘We will run candidates in all the Hunter seats next March. Why shouldn’t people have more choice? ‘‘I get lampooned in the press every day because there are vested interests saying we shouldn’t have diversity, we shouldn’t have change. ‘‘Everyone in the Hunter voted against The Eddie Obeid Party at the last election because they were corrupt, and then we got the other party doing the same and now they’re not even standing candidates. ‘‘This is not about me and my ego. I’m totally irrelevant to the debate. It’s about the people of Newcastle and Charlestown. That’s what it’s about, and don’t listen to the media.’’ Newcastle’s controversial rail line should stay, he said, because it was ‘‘fundamentally a basic public service’’. And while a burgeoning industry in clean energy production ‘‘offered some good things’’, the Hunter should be ‘‘looking after its traditional industries’’ like mining and manufacturing, he said. And Newcastle wasn’t getting enough out of the port lease, which should be measured not in dollar terms but in how many jobs that money could generate. He’s also not interested in buying the Newcastle Jets from Nathan Tinkler. ‘‘I had a football team,’’ he said. ‘‘I think I’ve made my contribution there.’’ But back to Ms Stefanac and Ms Wrightson who, with a sizeable chunk of Mr Palmer’s cash, have mounted strong campaigns. ‘‘I love them,’’ Mr Palmer said. ‘‘I think they’re fantastic. How many political leaders say they love their candidates?’’ Well, not many, but more should, and they should also remember their names. ► Join the Herald's live election coverage online from 5pm Saturday.
IN the World According to Clive Palmer, there is no Labor or Liberal.
One is ‘The Eddie Obeid Party’ and the other is, well, ‘The Other Party’.
And then there is Susan. Susan is actually Suellen. Suellen Wrightson, one of the two independents Mr Palmer’s Palmer United Party is backing in Saturday’s Newcastle and Charlestown byelections.
Twice at the start of Mr Palmer’s press conference in Newcastle yesterday, Suellen, standing beside him, got Susan. She didn’t appear ruffled, but was probably grateful when the Herald corrected the record on her behalf.
Then there was Got Wifflam, our recently-departed former prime minister, and questions from the media which got totally unrelated answers. Maybe billionaires just talk that way.
Maybe that’s why Mr Palmer is gathering the political momentum he is, because people know what he means, even if he doesn’t.
With his private jet parked safely at Williamtown for the second day running, Mr Palmer spent Thursday campaigning in the two seats he hopes his candidates can deliver on Saturday.
There is a bigger prize, however. There was no mincing of words when it came to the full state election next March. The Palmer United Party wants the balance of power in the state’s upper house, just as it’s been able to achieve in Canberra.
Since the party’s reasonably solid Hunter showing in last year’s federal poll, he knows the Hunter is home to many people who nod in agreement when he talks about the major parties leaving Newcastle behind.
‘‘The Hunter has been neglected by all parties for 100 years yet it has been a great contributor to the country for 100 years,’’ he said.
‘‘All in all it’s been forgotten by the major parties. It’s time to stand up for the Hunter and recognise what it’s got and what it can achieve.
‘‘We will make the national news on Saturday night when they see our vote,’’ he predicted.
‘‘We will run candidates in all the Hunter seats next March. Why shouldn’t people have more choice?
‘‘I get lampooned in the press every day because there are vested interests saying we shouldn’t have diversity, we shouldn’t have change.
Jennifer Stefanac, Clive Palmer and Suellen Wrighton on Thursday. Pic: Darren Pateman
‘‘Everyone in the Hunter voted against The Eddie Obeid Party at the last election because they were corrupt, and then we got the other party doing the same and now they’re not even standing candidates.
‘‘This is not about me and my ego. I’m totally irrelevant to the debate. It’s about the people of Newcastle and Charlestown. That’s what it’s about, and don’t listen to the media.’’
Newcastle’s controversial rail line should stay, he said, because it was ‘‘fundamentally a basic public service’’. And while a burgeoning industry in clean energy production ‘‘offered some good things’’, the Hunter should be ‘‘looking after its traditional industries’’ like mining and manufacturing, he said. And Newcastle wasn’t getting enough out of the port lease, which should be measured not in dollar terms but in how many jobs that money could generate.
He’s also not interested in buying the Newcastle Jets from Nathan Tinkler.
‘‘I had a football team,’’ he said. ‘‘I think I’ve made my contribution there.’’
But back to Ms Stefanac and Ms Wrightson who, with a sizeable chunk of Mr Palmer’s cash, have mounted strong campaigns.
‘‘I love them,’’ Mr Palmer said. ‘‘I think they’re fantastic. How many political leaders say they love their candidates?’’
Well, not many, but more should, and they should also remember their names.
► Join the Herald's live election coverage online from 5pm Saturday.
