Clive Palmer, the seat of Fairfax, PUP, the Senate and #2tracks rail

[Fares_Fair]

This morning ABC radio's Annie Gaffney interviewed Clive Palmer, leader of the Palmer United Party (PUP) and likely holder of the balance of power in the Senate from 1 July 2014.

Interview on Soundcloud here:
https://soundcloud.com/abc-sunshine-coast/clive-palmer-answers-your

Rail duplication gets a mention at around the 16 minute mark ...

There will be a Queensland Press Gallery announcement on 19 April 2014 where Mr Palmer will make some announcements regarding their plans for Fairfax and for Queensland, to get things going. Mr Palmer claimed to working hard on rail duplication...

[ozbob]

 

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

8th April 2014

Clive Palmer on board for two tracks to Sunshine Coast

We welcome Clive Palmer's support for Sunshine Coast Line duplication.

Why have Sunshine Coast MPs been vacillating within their electoral 'safe seats' for so long over what is basic infrastructure? Over 250 000 people live on the Sunshine Coast but there is only one train track. It is like having a freeway with just one lane.

We therefore welcome Clive Palmer's interview in which he discusses his support for upgrading the Sunshine Coast railway line. This is an important freight line to all of northern Queensland and of national importance of the same calibre as the national road network. As this project is not strictly urban rail, we think it should be possible to get funding from the Australian Government. There are also enabling provisions in section 51 of the Australian Constitution that give the Australian Government powers to make laws regarding 'Railway construction and extension in any State with the consent of that State.'*

If the Queensland Government sells assets, it should put that money into assets that work for Queensland. That means iron clad guarantee (signed memorandum of understanding) that funds will be committed to duplicate the Sunshine Coast line. Jobs for those who move to Caloundra South can't be found locally.  They will have to seek employment in Brisbane, making the SCL duplication an absolute necessity.

Best wishes
Robert

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track http://backontrack.org


References:

Clive Palmer answers your questions and ours ABC Sunshine Coast https://soundcloud.com/abc-sunshine-coast/clive-palmer-answers-your

* Commonwealth Of Australia Constitution Act Part V - Powers of the Parliament (xxxiv.)
Railway construction and extension in any State with the consent of that State.

http://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Senate/Powers_practice_n_procedures/Constitution

[Fares_Fair]

WA hands big Clive a huge advantage

Sunshine Coast Daily
by Richard Bruinsma | 8th Apr 2014 11:06 AM


THANK you, Western Australia, you may have made "our Clive" one of Australia's most politically powerful men.

And if Clive Palmer's own words are much to go by, he plans to make best use of that power to benefit the Sunshine Coast.

The head of the Palmer United Party described as "pretty great" the securing of a third Senate seat courtesy of the re-run Western Australia senate ballot on Saturday.

The PUP secured around 12.5% of the vote, an impressive increase from the 5% it won in the Federal Election in August. The result means the party has one extra Senate seat, adding to the two it secured last year.

"That's a healthy result and it shows we're doing the right thing and saying the right thing," Mr Palmer said.

"It's a chance for the Sunshine Coast to be the centre of focus in Australia; it's a chance to get some of the priorities of the Sunshine Coast highlighted.

"As Member for Fairfax, that's my duty, and that's what I'll be doing."

PUP's three senators have a voting alliance with a senator from the Australian Motoring Enthusiasts Party.

University of the Sunshine Coast politics lecturer Bronwyn Stevens said the Western Australia result put PUP in a powerful position when legislation was introduced by the Liberal-National coalition government.

"It's a lot in terms of the balance of power," Ms Stevens said of the four-person voting bloc.

"With Labor and the Greens against them (the Coalition), and the small number of independents who are very unpredictable, they're going to have to negotiate with Palmer, who has put himself in a very powerful position."

However, the Queensland Government is not convinced by the PUP.

"Clive Palmer is more interested in election campaigns in other states than he is in Queensland's future," a spokesman said.

"Mr Palmer's campaign in Western Australia was built on stripping close to $1 billion in GST funding from Queensland that goes towards our schools, hospitals and roads.

"He has no plan for Queensland.

"While Clive Palmer wants to take money away from Queensland and give it to Western Australia, the LNP Government is focused on growing the economy and dealing with Labor's $80 billion debt to secure our state's financial future."

Mr Palmer said the PUP's next target was to see the removal of the Campbell Newman-led LNP Government in Queensland.

"The next objective is that good government in Queensland is returned," he said.

"(Premier) Campbell (Newman) might go at any time, once you see the budget from (Federal Treasurer) Joe Hockey, which will send us further into the dark ages."

"He's losing support all the time."

Mr Palmer said Queenslanders should not be living in fear of losing hospitals and schools, the privatisation of public assets, and increases in health care and costs of visiting their GP.

The government spokesman said Mr Newman had always said the election would be 2015.
[quote/]

[Stillwater]

That government spokesperson is right.  We are 12 months from an election, maybe less.  And this far into an election cycle, the media on the SC very pointedly are asking the local members in safe seats 'what have you done for your electorate.'  Not a good look.

The LNP has taken the Sunshine Coast voters for granted for too long.

People on the Sunshine Coast are itching to vote conservative at the next state election without voting for the LNP.  Peter Wellington, the Independent in Nicklin, will get back in.  If a three-legged dog stood against Jarod Bleijie in Kawana, the bikies would bankroll it to win.  In Gympie, David Gibson is facing a challenge from his former campaign manager, Scott Elms, who will stand as an Independent candidate if the LNP nominates Mr Gibson for the seat.

Grassroots candidates put up by Clive Palmer face the prospect of solid voter support from people unimpressed with LNP yesmen and yeswomen who appear prominently on the billboards at election time, but who are ghostly spectres in between.

Big Clive is on the money when he says that the Sunshine Coast could be a stronghold for the PUP.  If so, the LNP has itself to blame, due to inaction on things such as the SCL rail duplication.

[Fares_Fair]

 

[Fares_Fair]

Retweeted by Jeff Addison 

Palmer United Party @PalmerUtdParty     ·   7h   
.@CliveFPalmer is making a difference in Fairfax. Read how here http://bit.ly/1hHBqxP  #auspol

 Reply  Replied to 0 times   
 Retweeted  Retweeted 4 times 4 
 Favorited  Favorited 4 times 4 

He says he has:
•Campaigned for the immediate upgrade of Sunshine Coast infrastructure, including the Maroochydore Airport and the duplication of the railway line to Brisbane

That's fantastic news, I'd love to know how he has campaigned for it and who he has discussed it with and what options were on the table.

I sent Clive copies of my report when he first decided to run for Fairfax.
I have never ever received any acknowledgement for any of the factual information/reports I passed on.

Wouldn't like to see him take credit for (perhaps) another's work.

[Stillwater]

Does Clive ever put out media statements, or just produces off the cuff thought bubbles?  Haven't seen any media releases on PUP letterhead about SCL duplication.