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Clive Palmer wanted favours: Campbell Newman

Queensland Premier Campbell Newman has accused Clive Palmer of seeking preferential treatment to get approval for a rail line out of the Galilee Basin.

Mr Newman gave insight into the bitter feud with the Sunshine Coast MP and miner, saying one of the catalysts was Mr Palmer’s attempt to get favours.

“Mr Palmer tried to seek preferential treatment from our government,” Mr Newman told ABC Radio.

“We said we’d welcome investment, but he had to follow due process that everybody else had to follow.

“He didn’t like that.”

During further meetings with the premier and deputy Jeff Seeney, Mr Palmer became increasingly more strident and agitated.

“He simply wanted us to do things that were not right.”

Desperate to get his rail line up, Mr Palmer turned up to a meeting with Mr Seeney with proposed legislation which would enable him to get his proposal up, Mr Newman alleges.

“We were shocked,” he said.

Mr Palmer, a former donor and life member of the LNP, is still smarting after the state government rejected his bid in preference for GVK Hancock and Aurizon’s bid, partly driven by Gina Rinehart.

Mr Newman says the government has referred itself to the Crime and Misconduct Commission.

“He continues to cast these slurs on us and accuse us of corruption,” Mr Newman said.

“Mr Palmer seems to have some allegation. We’re sick of him making that allegation, please go and ask him to go and put his evidence on the table and investigate us.”

Topics: Clive Palmer
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