Clive Palmer has had another stab at Campbell Newman but this time succeeded in setting up a federal inquiry into the Queensland government.

The Palmer United Party (PUP) on Tuesday won support for an Senate inquiry into the conduct of the Newman government, just a week after a similar attempt fell flat in the upper house.

Labor and the Australian Greens backed the proposal, outraging the Abbott government.

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Government Senate Leader Eric Abetz accused PUP of abusing parliament and pursuing Mr Palmer’s “personal vendetta” against Premier Newman.

“Is this the way we want to trash our democracy?” he asked, adding the motion was wrong in principle.

But PUP senator Glenn Lazarus said serious concerns had been raised about the Queensland government’s use of federal funds and taxpayers deserved answers.

He was heckled by government senators but insisted the Commonwealth had an obligation to ensure its money was being used appropriately.

Labor frontbencher Stephen Conroy said Labor supported the inquiry because it was looking at a “thoroughly corrupt bunch of individuals” in Queensland and their conduct behind the scenes.

“The conduct of the Campbell Newman government is something that deserves scrutiny,” he said.

It’s at least the third time PUP has tried to launch Senate action against the Queensland government.

Last week’s bid to set up a similar inquiry flopped when Labor withdrew its support at the eleventh hour.

It comes as a poll published in The Australian on Tuesday showed the Liberal National Party had staged a turnaround in Queensland at the expense of PUP.