Conflicted Clive

AAP: Dave Hunt - file photo

What’s getting up my nose this week? MPs of course.
In particular, Clive Palmer and his parliamentary voting record.

On November 14, 2013 a press release published on Palmer United’s website said Clive Palmer (seen above with a fellow dinosaur)

...would be abstaining from voting in the House of Representatives on the carbon tax repeal legislation to avoid a potential conflict of interest. 

"I'm applying company director standards and stepping out of this debate as there’s currently a potential conflict of interest," Mr Palmer said.

But then gave himself a totally get out of jail free card:

"If this carbon tax issue is still not resolved by the time the Palmer United Party senators-elect take their place in the parliament next July then they’ll deal with it.

"They do not have a conflict of interest." 

No conflict of interest my arse.

His party members were able to vote to repeal the carbon tax on his behalf.

His two senators voted to "personally and directly financially advantage" their party leader, to quote Greens leader Christine Milne.

Meanwhile, others on the internet are arguing that the PUP took the carbon tax repeal as a policy to the election, thus Lazarus, Lambie and Wang had an obligation to their supporters to vote in accordance with their published Policy document. And those senators do not have individual pecuniary interest in the matter, they don’t own mining or energy companies, so no reason not to vote.

So okay, technically it’s within the rules of our parliament that, as Crikey points out

"never envisaged a situation where a wealthy individual would use that wealth to create a party in his own name and propel others into the Senate." 

But to get to today's up the nose subject, Palmer’s voting record.

According to an ABC report, he has only voted 19 times out of 202. And “13 related to axing the carbon and mining taxes or associated votes on procedure”.

Wait a minute, didn’t his press release say he’d abstain from such votes?

So now his new story is just to deny the conflict:

"We all pay tax. Does that mean that members of parliament don't vote on income tax bills?" he said early this month.

Oh for god’s sake.

Infographics from http://www.abc.net.au