Clive Palmer

This article is about the Australian politician and businessman. For the British folk musician, see Clive Palmer (musician).
Clive Palmer
MP
Leader of the Palmer United Party
Incumbent
Assumed office
1 April 2013
Preceded by Party Created
Member of the Australian Parliament
for Fairfax
Incumbent
Assumed office
7 September 2013
Preceded by Alex Somlyay
Personal details
Born Clive Frederick Palmer
26 March 1954
Melbourne, Australia
Citizenship Australian
Political party Palmer United Party (2013–present)
Other political
affiliations		 National (1969–2008)
Liberal National (2008–2012)
Spouse(s) Anna Palmer
Residence Sovereign Islands, Gold Coast, Queensland[1]
Occupation Politician; director and owner, Mineralogy Pty Ltd
ResourceHouse[2][3]
Waratah Coal
Religion Roman Catholicism[4][5]
Net worth Decrease A$1.22 bn (2014 BRW)[6]
Decrease US$550 m (2014 Forbes)[7]

Clive Frederick Palmer (born 26 March 1954) is an Australian businessman, politician and owner of Mineralogy.[8] He has iron ore, nickel and coal holdings.[9] Palmer's net worth was estimated by Forbes magazine to be US$550 million as of January 2014;[7] while the BRW magazine estimated his wealth at A$1.22 billion as of June 2014.[6]

Palmer owns Mineralogy, Waratah Coal, Palmer Industries, Queensland Nickel at Townsville, Palmer Coolum Resort on the Sunshine Coast, Palmer Sea Reef Golf Course at Port Douglas, Palmer Colonial Golf Course at Robina, and the Palmer Gold Coast Golf Course, also at Robina. He owned Gold Coast United FC from 2008 to 2012.[9][10]

In April 2012, he announced that he had signed a memorandum of understanding with CSC Jinling Shipyard to construct a replica of RMS Titanic, the Titanic II.[11] The ship will be built in China and will set sail in late 2016.[11] This date has since been moved back to 2018.[12] Palmer also added over 100 animatronic dinosaurs to his resort in Coolum, creating a simulated Jurassic Park.[13][14]

In 2013, he established the Palmer United Party and contested the federal election. Palmer won the Queensland seat of Fairfax in the Australian House of Representatives.[15]

Early life

Palmer was born in Melbourne on 26 March 1954, and spent his early years in the suburb of Williamstown.[16][17] His family moved to Queensland in 1963[16] and Palmer was largely raised on the Gold Coast, where he attended Aquinas College and Southport State High School, although he also attended Toowoomba Grammar School.[17] Palmer's father, George, was a successful travel agent, and the family traveled the world extensively.[18]

Palmer studied law and journalism studies at the University of Queensland from 1973 to 1975, dropping out before completing his degree.[19]

Business career

Natural resources

Palmer is the owner of Mineralogy, a company which has 160 billion tonnes of iron ore reserves in the Pilbara Ranges, in remote Western Australia.[20]

In 2008, Palmer bought Waratah Coal.[21]

In 2009, he bought Queensland Nickel and the Palmer Nickel and Cobalt Refinery.[22] The following year, the company increased production by 30%, prompting him to give $10 million worth of Christmas bonuses to staff including 55 Mercedes-Benz B-Class cars and overseas holidays.[23]

Soccer

Palmer purchased the Gold Coast United soccer club in 2008 to improve his profile in China.[24] In October 2009, he made a decision to cap attendances of Gold Coast United home games at Skilled Park stadium to 5,000,[25] in a bid to save money.[25] After widespread backlash and only 2616 fans attending the next home game, the idea was scrapped after the intervention of Football Federation Australia.[25]

On 29 February 2012, Ben Buckley and Frank Lowy announced that his license for Gold Coast United FC was to be revoked for constant breaches of FFA rules and regulations and sought to pay out the contracts of the players for the remaining month of the season.[26] Lowy has stated that he acted in order to protect the integrity of the sport.[27] However, Palmer stipulated that he would contest the decisions through legal action and claimed Lowy was a dictator.[27] Despite a ruling ordering the removal of "Freedom of Speech" logos on their shirts, Palmer has indicated they will remain.[28] On 2 March 2012, Palmer lost his Supreme Court bid against Gold Coast United's expulsion from the A-League.[29]

In 2012, after the FFA revoked his Gold Coast United A-League license, Palmer founded Football Australia  – a competing organisation for the sport of soccer in Australia that operated without any international affiliates.[30]

Other activities

In June 2002, Palmer was appointed adjunct professor of business at Deakin University's Faculty of Business and Law, a role he held until 2006. During that time, he delivered a series of lectures as part of Deakin's MBA residential programs.[31] In 2008 Palmer was appointed adjunct professor of management at Bond University on the Gold Coast.[32]

In December 2012, Palmer was appointed secretary general of the World Leadership Alliance, a democracy-promoting council that includes former US president Bill Clinton, Myanmar's opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Palmer was named president of the alliance's business chapter, the World Economic Council.[33]

In December 2012, on Christmas Day, Palmer hosted a buffet lunch for 650 disadvantaged people, mostly children and their families.[34]

On 4 March 2012, Palmer was named, amid controversy,[35] as a National Living Treasure by the New South Wales Branch of the National Trust of Australia.[36][37]

Announcements

Titanic II

Main article: Titanic II

In February 2013, at a press conference in New York, Palmer announced plans to build a modern-day replica of the liner RMS Titanic. It is planned that Titanic II will be built in China and will make its maiden voyage from Southampton to New York City in 2018. Palmer hopes to re-create the Titanic as closely as possible with its familiar outside looks and also on the inside. According to Palmer, the Titanic II will be 883 feet long, weigh 55,800 gross tons and will carry 2,435 passengers and 900 crew. The Titanic II will honour the memories of those who died and survived on the Titanic, Palmer said. The Titanic was operated by the White Star Line, and Palmer's cruise company is called Blue Star Line. Like the original ship, there will be no TVs aboard and probably no Internet service, he says.[32][38]

Palmer Coolum Resort: Dinosaur Park

After announcing the Titanic II plans, Palmer announced his plans to build a park that features animatronic dinosaurs. He originally proposed that it be called Jurassic Park after the film of the same name, but due to copyright issues the proposed name was changed to "Palmer Coolum Resort: Dinosaur Park". Palmer ordered more than 160 animatronic dinosaurs, which included an initial shipment of a 3.5 meter tall, 20 meter long T-Rex, nicknamed "Jeff". Palmer received full council approval for the park on 25 July 2013, and it was expected to open to the public in 2014.[39] On 14 December 2013, the dinosaur park, now called "Palmersaurus", was opened to the public,[14] with Terri, Bindi and Bob Irwin as guests of honour.

"Palmersaurus" garnered early controversy when the Australian PGA Championship withdrew from the course, citing disagreements about the location of the park.[14]

Palmer Coolum Resort has been subject of a story by the ABC's 7:30 in which owners of villas at the resort allege Clive Palmer has been locking them out of their villas[40]

Politics

Palmer was instrumental in the split of the South Australian conservatives in the 1970s, and was active in the Liberal Movement headed by former Premier of South Australia Steele Hall.[41] Palmer joined the Queensland division of the National Party of Australia in 1974, having been influenced by the policies of Joh Bjelke-Petersen, Premier of Queensland at the time.[42] From the early 1980s onwards, he was involved in state politics, serving as the National Party's campaign director during the 1983 state election and as media spokesman during its 1986 election campaign, both of which were successful.[43]

Palmer was against the "Joh for Canberra" campaign, which unsuccessfully attempted to get Bjelke-Petersen elected as Prime Minister of Australia at the 1987 federal election.[44] He was elected to life membership of the party in 1992, which he retained after the state branches of the National Party and Liberal Party merged to form the Liberal National Party of Queensland in 2008.[17]

In late April 2012, Palmer announced that he would contest Liberal National Party preselection for the Division of Lilley at the 2013 federal election, which is currently held by Wayne Swan, the former Deputy Prime Minister and Treasurer.[45][46] However, later that year, in July, he announced his intention to seek preselection for a different seat, including possibly the Division of Kennedy, held by Bob Katter of Katter's Australian Party (formerly sitting as a National and an independent).[47][48]

Several months after announcing his intent to seek preselection, Palmer resigned his life membership of the Liberal National Party.[49] His membership of the party had been suspended on 9 November, following comments on the actions of state government ministers.[50] He was re-instated to the party on 22 November, but resigned the same day.[51]

On 25 April 2013, Palmer announced a "reformation" of the United Australia Party, which had been folded into the present-day Liberal Party in 1945, to stand candidates in the 2013 federal election, and had applied for registration in Queensland.[52][53] Another political party, The United Party, lodged a formal objection to registration of the name 'Palmer United Party' (PUP) with the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC).[54] The AEC determined that the names 'Uniting Australia Party' and 'Palmer United Party' were distinct and the name 'Palmer United Party' was not prohibited.[55]

Member of Parliament

Palmer ran as the candidate in the Division of Fairfax for his party. In the election, he won the first count by just 7 votes and an automatic recount was started.[56]

Palmer accused Drew Hutton and Greenpeace of receiving funding from the CIA, due to his involvement in the preparation of a Greenpeace strategy titled "Stopping the Australian Coal Export Boom".[57][58] His claims were dismissed by Greenpeace senior campaigner John Hepburn as "ludicrous", who said that Greenpeace would not accept money from any government, corporation or secret service.[59] His claims were also rejected by the CIA.[60]

In his maiden speech to federal parliament, Palmer implied that the government was "deaf to the everyday struggles of all Australians" and stated that "the entrenchment of the two-party system in this country not only threatens democracy but destroys the creativity of the nation."[61][62]

Personal life

Palmer lives in a large villa at the Palmer Coolum Resort, Queensland. News Limited reports that property records reveal "Mr Palmer, his family and associates own a total of 11 homes in the Sovereign Islands, a gated enclave developed on reclaimed land on the banks of the Southport Broadwater". Palmer also owns homes at Broadbeach Waters on the Gold Coast, Fig Tree Pocket in Brisbane and in Sofia in Bulgaria.[1] Other holdings include properties in Brisbane, Jandowae on the Darling Downs, Queensland, Port Douglas in Queensland and Bora Bora, French Polynesia. In addition, his wife, Anna Palmer owns an undisclosed number of properties held in trust.[63]

Palmer was married to his first wife for 22 years. He has two adult children: a son and a daughter.[64] His first wife, Susan Palmer, died from cancer in 2005. In 2007, he married Anna.[65] They have two daughters.[66] Palmer is a devout Roman Catholic, and was a prominent member of Right to Life Australia while at university, organising anti-abortion rallies on campus.[4][5]

While watching a soccer game in October 2009, Palmer was thought to have suffered a heart attack, and was taken to hospital. However, doctors dismissed it as merely a heart palpitation.[67] Palmer has also suffered from sleep apnoea.[68]

Wealth rankings

Year BRW
Rich 200		 Forbes
Australia's 40 Richest
Rank Net worth (AUD) Rank Net worth (USD)
2010
2011[69][70] 5 Increase $5.05 billion Increase n/a not listed
2012[71][72] 8 Decrease $3.85 billion Decrease 29 Increase $0.80 billion Increase
2013[73] $2.20 billion Decrease
2014[6][7] 28 Decrease $1.22 billion Decrease 50 Decrease $550 m Decrease
Legend
Icon Description
Steady Has not changed from the previous year
Increase Has increased from the previous year
Decrease Has decreased from the previous year

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Stolz, Greg (9 November 2013). "Questions over where new Member for Fairfax Clive Palmer will live". News.com.au (News Ltd). Retrieved 24 January 2014.
  2. ↑ "Australia's Resourcehouse signs $60 bln deal with China". The Sydney Morning Herald. 6 February 2010.
  3. ↑ "Clive Palmer's $3bn Resourcehouse raising stalls". The Australian. 28 November 2009.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Remeikis, Amy (26 April 2013). "Palmer's party to right the wrongs. Right?". Brisbane Times.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Terzis, Gillian. "Who is the real Clive Palmer? : Portrait of a mercurial, litigious political force". Australian Book Review.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 "BRW Rich 200 list 2014: 28. Clive Palmer". BRW (Sydney). 27 June 2014. Retrieved 29 June 2014.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Treadgold, Tim (29 January 2014). "A Miner in Parliament". Forbes Asia. Retrieved 31 May 2014.
  8. ↑ "Good news for tourism". The Courier-Mail. 1 April 2012.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Craddock, Robert (14 June 2008). "Billionaire Clive Palmer behind Coast soccer team". The Courier-Mail. Retrieved 28 September 2009.
  10. ↑ "Qld's richest man invests in Fury". ABC Sports. 6 August 2009. Retrieved 28 September 2009.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 "Australian billionaire Clive Palmer to build Titanic II". BBC News. 30 April 2012. Retrieved 30 April 2012.
  12. ↑ http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/clive-palmers-blue-star-line-has-quietly-readjusted-the-launch-date-for-titanic-ii-to-2018/story-fnihsrf2-1226995289211?nk=7e65e509267d948da4800fbdcb5d5e4a
  13. ↑ "Billionaire Clive Palmer orders 117 more dinosaurs for resort". The Australian. 6 April 2013. Retrieved 6 April 2013.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 "Palmersaurus: Inside Clive Palmer's dinosaur theme park". news.com.au. 17 December 2013. Retrieved 18 December 2013.
  15. ↑ Ireland, Judith. "Clive Palmer wins Fairfax after marathon recount". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 31 October 2013.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 "Clive Palmer – Extended Interview Transcript – Part One". Australian Story. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 7 May 2012. Retrieved 14 May 2013.
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 Mr. CLIVE FREDERICK PALMER – the Brisbane Mining Club. Published 2007. Retrieved 26 April 2013.
  18. ↑ http://www.aww.com.au/news-features/news-stories/2014/9/flashback-clive-palmer-12-in-the-weekly-in-1967/
  19. ↑ Everything you need to know about Clive Palmer's life | News.com.au
  20. ↑ "Final Deal Aug06 - FINAL.pdf" (PDF). austresources.com.au. 7 August 2006. Retrieved 28 September 2009.
  21. ↑ Andrew Fraser and Andrew Burrell (13 February 2010). "The magnate's Chinese whispers". The Australian (News Limited). Retrieved 10 November 2011.
  22. ↑ "Queensland Nickel: Our History". Queensland Nickel. Retrieved 16 January 2013.
  23. ↑ Michaela McNamara (21 November 2010). "Queensland Nickel Employees Get Mercedes & Vacations for Christmas". Business Review Australia. Retrieved 5 March 2012.
  24. ↑ Marco Monteverde & Paul Malone (7 June 2008). "Billionaire Clive Palmer has big plans for Coast club". The Courier Mail (News Queensland). Retrieved 29 February 2012.
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 25.2 Gatt, Ray (3 November 2009). "Palmer agrees to scrap the cap". The Australian. Retrieved 5 November 2009.
  26. ↑ "FFA revokes Gold Coast United's licence". goldcoast.com.au (News Limited). 29 February 2012. Retrieved 29 February 2012.
  27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 Ray Gatt (29 February 2012). "Gold Coast owner Clive Palmer loses A-League licence". The Australian (News Limited). Retrieved 29 February 2012.
  28. ↑ "Palmer poses peace offering to Lowy". ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation). 29 February 2012. Retrieved 29 February 2012.
  29. ↑ Amy Remeikis (2 March 2012). "Palmer loses bid to save club". Brisbane Times (Fairfax Media). Retrieved 4 March 2012.
  30. ↑ AAP (1 March 2012). "'We kick harder' – Clive Palmer sets up rebel football organisation". The Age. Retrieved 2 May 2014.
  31. ↑ "Graduation – past ceremonies". Waterfront Campus, Deakin University. 2 April 2008. Retrieved 28 September 2009.
  32. ↑ 32.0 32.1 "Professor Clive and Mrs Anna Palmer". Southport Chamber of Commerce. Retrieved 28 February 2013.
  33. ↑ "Palmer joins Clinton, Suu Kyi in alliance". Herald Sun (News Limited). 18 December 2012. Retrieved 27 December 2012.
  34. ↑ Kristin Shorten (25 December 2012). "Clive Palmer hosts 600 disadvantaged people at Christmas Day lunch at Palmer Coolum Resort". The Courier Mail (News Queensland). Retrieved 27 December 2012.
  35. ↑ Christine Sams, Cosima Marriner: National living treasure uproar, Sydney Morning Herald, 4 March 2012. Retrieved 16 March 2012.
  36. ↑ "Seven added to national living treasure list". Lauren Farrow (Canberra Times). 5 March 2012. Retrieved 8 March 2012.
  37. ↑ "National Living Treasure Palmer takes swipe at Swan". ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation). 4 March 2012. Retrieved 4 March 2012.
  38. ↑ USA TODAY
  39. ↑ Skinner, Jo; Atkinson, Bruce (25 July 2013). "Clive Palmer gets go-ahead to build world's biggest dinosaur park at Coolum Resort". ABCnews. ABC. Retrieved 28 July 2013.
  40. ↑ "Clive Palmer's battle to force people from their homes at his resort – 06/05/2014". ABCnews. ABC. 6 May 2014. Retrieved 10 May 2014.
  41. ↑ Former SA resident Clive Palmer wants to field candidates in 2014 state election: The Advertiser 12 October 2013
  42. ↑ "The Gold Coast in the 60s was a great place to be. Joh Bjelke-Petersen was premier. And he talked about the need to see the state grow. So, as I grew up, I was very impressed by all that." Transcript: "Larger Than Life", Australian Story – Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Published 7 May 2012. Retrieved 26 April 2013.
  43. ↑ Syvret, Paul (2012). Calamity Clive: Has Queensland's richest man Clive Palmer lost the plot? – The Courier-Mail. Published 3 March 2012. Retrieved 26 April 2013.
  44. ↑ "Palmer is a life member of the National Party and was the party's media spokesman during the 1986 state election. The Queensland 2006 rich list – Brisbane Times. Published 20 July 2007. Retrieved 26 April 2013.
  45. ↑ Fraser, Andrew, and Vasek, Lanai (2012). Clive Palmer seeks LNP preselection to take on Wayne Swan in the next federal election – The Australian. Published 2 May 2012. Retrieved 26 April 2013.
  46. ↑ Berry, Petrina (2012). Clive Palmer to stand against Wayne Swan – The Sydney Morning Herald. Published 30 April 2012. Retrieved 26 April 2013.
  47. ↑ Clive Palmer dodges Wayne Swan in Lilley – The Australian. Published 3 July 2012. Retrieved 26 April 2013.
  48. ↑ Wright, Jessica (2012). Katter warns Palmer he risks the knackery – The Sydney Morning Herald. Published 5 July 2012. Retrieved 26 April 2013.
  49. ↑ Clive Palmer resigns from LNP – Gold Coast Bulletin. Published 23 November 2012. Retrieved 27 April 2013.
  50. ↑ Feeney, Katherine (2012). Palmer suspended from LNP – Brisbane Times. Published 9 November 2012. Retrieved 27 April 2013.
  51. ↑ Clive Palmer quits LNP on eve of showdown – ABC News. Published 23 November 2012. Retrieved 27 April 2013.
  52. ↑ "Palmer to reform UAP party for election". SBS News. 25 April 2013.
  53. ↑ "Palmer to re-form UAP party for election". Brisbane Times. 25 April 2013.
  54. ↑ Clive Palmer faces fresh objections to party name – Sydney Morning Herald
  55. ↑ Palmer United Party – Australian Electoral Commission
  56. ↑ "Clive Palmer wins Sunshine Coast seat of Fairfax, says 'goodbye' Campbell Newman". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 1 November 2013. Retrieved 23 May 2014.
  57. ↑ Palmer backs away from CIA claims – Sydney Morning Herald
  58. ↑ "CIA funding activists, Palmer says". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 20 March 2012. Retrieved 22 March 2012.
  59. ↑ Matt Wordsworth and staff (20 March 2012). "Palmer says green groups funded by CIA". ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation). Retrieved 22 March 2012.
  60. ↑ Emma Griffiths (21 March 2012). "CIA hits back at Palmer conspiracy claims". ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corproation). Retrieved 22 March 2012.
  61. ↑ "Watch Clive Palmer's maiden speech in full". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 2 December 2013.
  62. ↑ "GOVERNOR-GENERAL'S SPEECH Address-in-Reply". House Hansard. Parliament of Australia. 2 December 2013.
  63. ↑ Tin, Jason; Walsh, Liam (12 December 2013). "Clive Palmer's daughter Mary has multimillion-dollar property portfolio in trust". Courier Mail. News Ltd. Retrieved 24 January 2014.
  64. ↑ Shared tragedy led to romance for Clive Palmer – The Courier-Mail. Published 6 May 2012. Retrieved 26 April 2013.
  65. ↑ Clive Palmer was 'father' to his now bride – The Sydney Morning Herald. Published 7 May 2012. Retrieved 26 April 2013.
  66. ↑ Walker, Jamie (2012). Clive Palmer: having it all – The Australian. Published 18 August 2012. Retrieved 26 April 2013.
  67. ↑ Monteverde, Marco; Caldwell, Anna (11 October 2009). "Queensland's richest man Clive Palmer rushed to hospital". The Courier-Mail. Retrieved 5 November 2009.
  68. ↑ Darryl Passmore (4 March 2012). "Sleep apnoea silent killer stalked billionaire tycoon Clive Palmer". The Sunday Mail (News Queensland). Retrieved 5 March 2012.
  69. ↑ "Passport Power". BRW Rich 200 Wealth Index (Australia). 25 May 2011. Retrieved 2 June 2012.
  70. ↑ "Australia's 40 Richest". Forbes Asia. 1 February 2011. Retrieved 18 June 2012.
  71. ↑ "Rich 200 2012". BRW. Digital Media. Retrieved 28 February 2013.
  72. ↑ "Australia's 40 Richest". Forbes. 2013. Retrieved 28 February 2013.
  73. ↑ Stensholt, John (24 June 2014). "BRW Rich 200: Clive Palmer shows how to lose a cool billion". BRW (Sydney). Retrieved 29 June 2014.

External links

Parliament of Australia
Preceded by
Alex Somlyay		 Member for Fairfax
2013–present 		Incumbent