I'm not sure what's going to happen to the Palmer United Party ? The word 'united' seems to be somewhat over stated, given the latest utterances from his most vocal Tasmania senator, Ms Jackie LAMBIE ? Ms LAMBIE seems to be saying and doing anything she wishes, without first seeking her founder's wise counsel, views and opinions ?

I really know nothing of Clive PALMER himself, other than he's got a very litigious penchant, when anyone (outside parliament) annoys him ? That said, he seems either unable or unwilling to exercise any control over his four senators though ? I guess therefore, Party discipline is not that high on their agenda ?

My youngest daughter voted for him, "because he's a businessman, & we need more of them in parliament" she reckoned. I get the impression she has learned a lesson by his behaviour since.

I'm inclined to think that like Bond, he is more of a gambler, gambling in companies rather than casinos.

I think he will disappear, but at least he did stop us having a senate totally controlled by the left. For that we have to be thankful at least.

Its time the whole kit and caboodle of election voting was thrown out and the true democratic 'first past the post' form of voting introduced.
Preference vots only support the idiots and the minorities.

chrisgaff1000, the FPTP system is EXTREMELY BAD for democracy. It benefits the big parties at the expense of everyone else. It means that standing for election is likely to harm your cause – any independent who stands for election has less chance of winning than of altering the outcome by preventing the votes of his or her supporters from deciding who the winner will be.

Preferential voting is much better for democracy. Everyone can vote according to their honest opinion, secure in the knowledge that their vote will count. And in most cases they stand to lose far more from trying to play the system than they could gain.

I was hoping Palmer would do something for working Australians. It was a waste of time my voting for him.

I've learned that Palmer promised to reimburse candidates financially who ran for PUP in the last election. I know of one who put up $50,000 of his own money and Clive refused to reimburse him. Clive said sue me.

Clive just wants to join the big boys club of multi-billionaires and does not give a stuff about his own country.

ARJAY, I think you're on to something in your summation of Mr PALMER ! Perhaps he's simply trying to demonstrate what can be done when you possess immense wealth. Politics to Mr PALMER is more of a hobby it would seem ? One might pursue numismatics as a hobby, while our Mr PALMER likes to play politics, by dislocating normal conventions by placing carefully chosen individuals/candidates in positions of power, much like a board game ? Trouble is he's playing around with the welfare of ordinary people, people who have a need to live from week to week, payday to payday. A bit of a laugh for him no doubt, but when you're on the end of things, it quickly loses much of it's humour !