Clive Palmer

Palmer was born on 26 March 1954 at Footscray Hospital in Footscray, a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria. He spent his early years in the nearby suburb of Williamstown.{{cite web |title=Clive Palmer – extended interview: Part 1 |format=transcript |url=http://www.abc.net.au/austory/content/2012/s3507793.htm |work=Australian Story |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |access-date=14 May 2013 |date=7 May 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130508104931/http://www.abc.net.au/austory/content/2012/s3507793.htm |archive-date=8 May 2013 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}{{cite web |url=http://www.brisbaneminingclub.com.au/event_pdfs/c_palmer/Clive_Palmers_CV%20SJM.pdf |title=Mr. Clive Frederick Palmer |publisher=The Brisbane Mining Club |date=2007 |access-date=26 April 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130202193313/http://www.brisbaneminingclub.com.au/event_pdfs/c_palmer/Clive_Palmers_CV%20SJM.pdf |archive-date=2 February 2013 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }} His family moved to Queensland in 1963, 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 for a short time. Palmer's father, George, was a travel agent, and the family travelled the world extensively.{{cite web |url=https://www.nowtolove.com.au/news/real-life/flashback-clive-palmer-12-in-the-weekly-in-1967-10060 |title=Clive Palmer's near death experience in AWW in 1967 |work=Australian Women's Weekly |date=1 September 2014 |access-date=5 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141217211644/http://www.aww.com.au/news-features/news-stories/2014/9/flashback-clive-palmer-12-in-the-weekly-in-1967/ |archive-date=17 December 2014 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }} George Palmer was also the proprietor of the Akron Tyre Co and the Akron Broadcasting Co and was the founder of Melbourne broadcasting station 3AK (now operating as SEN 1116).{{cite book |title=The Magic Spark. 50 Years of Radio in Australia |author=Walker, R. R. |publisher=Hawthorn Press |location=Melbourne |year=1973 }}

Palmer studied law, journalism and politics at the University of Queensland from 1973 to 1975, but did not finish the course. He later completed a Diploma of Law through the Queensland Bar Board, and worked as a clerk and interviewing officer for the Public Defender's Office.{{cite news |author=Shorten, Kristin |date=9 September 2013 |url=http://www.news.com.au/national-news/bites-about-clive/story-fncynjr2-1226662360128 |title=Everything you need to know about Clive Palmer's life |work=News.com.au |access-date=5 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004232941/http://www.news.com.au/national-news/bites-about-clive/story-fncynjr2-1226662360128 |archive-date=4 October 2013 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}

During the early to mid-1980s, Palmer was a real estate agent. He did well from the property boom on the Gold Coast, and he "retired" at the age of 29.{{cite news |last1=Yosufzai |first1=Rashida |title=Clive Palmer: The eccentric billionaire aiming at a political comeback |url=https://www.sbs.com.au/news/clive-palmer-the-eccentric-billionaire-aiming-at-a-political-comeback |access-date=12 May 2019 |work=SBS News |date=27 April 2019}}

{{Main|Mineralogy (mining company){{!}}Mineralogy|Mineralogy v Western Australia}}

In 1985 and 1986 Palmer founded three companies which undertook mining exploration in Western Australia (WA). These included Mineralogy, a company which in 2006 had {{convert|160|e9t|e9LT+e9ST}} of iron ore reserves in the Pilbara Ranges, in remote northern Western Australia.{{cite press release |title=Australasian announces ore reserve estimate for Balmoral South Project |url=http://www.austresources.com.au/images/stories/pdf/News%20Release%20-%20Reserves%20Aug06.pdf |publisher=Australasian Resources Limited |date=7 August 2006 |access-date=28 September 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170302001109/http://austresources.com.au/images/stories/pdf/News%20Release%20-%20Reserves%20Aug06.pdf |archive-date=2 March 2017 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }} In 2008, Palmer bought Waratah Coal.{{Cite news |url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/the-magnates-chinese-whispers/story-e6frg6nf-1225829867878 |title=The magnate's Chinese whispers |last1=Fraser|first1=Andrew|last2=Burrell|first2=Andrew |access-date=10 November 2011 |date=13 February 2010 |newspaper=The Australian }} Palmer transferred Mineralogy to New Zealand in December 2018, and moved it again to Singapore in January 2019.{{cite news |last=Chenoweth |first=Neil |title=The tricky business of Clive Palmer |url=https://www.afr.com/rear-window/the-tricky-business-of-clive-palmer-20190502-p51jel |access-date=12 May 2019 |work=The Australian Financial Review |date=3 May 2019}}

Mineralogy has been involved in a long-running dispute with CITIC over a royalty payment. Mineralogy and CITIC entered into an agreement in 2006 to develop some of the iron ore reserves Palmer owns. In November 2017, Justice Kenneth Martin of the Supreme Court of Western Australia awarded Mineralogy nearly $200 million. Palmer said the decision was "a win for Australian law over Chinese Communist government powerhouses".{{cite news |title=Clive Palmer has a major legal victory over Citic |url=http://www.afr.com/business/mining/iron-ore/clive-palmer-has-a-major-legal-victory-over-citic-20171124-gzs1ip |date=24 November 2017 |last=Ingram |first=Tess |access-date=24 November 2017 |work=The Australian Financial Review |ref=abc-vol-admin |location=Australia |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171124100105/http://www.afr.com/business/mining/iron-ore/clive-palmer-has-a-major-legal-victory-over-citic-20171124-gzs1ip |archive-date=24 November 2017 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }} As of May 2019, CITIC was suing Palmer and he had counter-sued them for $5 billion.

In August 2020, the WA Parliament passed an emergency bill to block a legal claim against the government by Palmer, relating to Mineralogy. WA Attorney-General John Quigley estimated the claim as totalling $30 billion, which he described as "rapacious" and equivalent to the annual budget of WA. Palmer denied that estimate and mounted a challenge in the Federal Court to the legislation as unconstitutional.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/aug/11/clive-palmer-suing-western-australia-wa-government-for-30bn|last=McGowan|first=Michael|title=Clive Palmer suing WA government for $30bn in move labelled 'rapacious' by attorney general|work=The Guardian|date=11 August 2020|access-date=11 August 2020}}{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/aug/14/clive-palmer-brands-wa-premier-an-outlaw-in-fiery-interview-as-state-moves-to-block-30bn-suit|last=Knaus|first=Christopher|title=Clive Palmer brands WA premier an 'outlaw' in fiery interview as state moves to block $30bn suit|work=The Guardian|date=14 August 2020|access-date=14 August 2020}}

On 28 March 2023, Palmer's Singapore-based company, Zeph Investments, filed a notice of arbitration, suing the Commonwealth of Australia for AUD$296 billion over the alleged loss of contractual entitlement, “moral damages” and “sovereign risk”, in relation to the iron ore project for which Palmer's company, Mineralogy, had already lost a lawsuit.{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/mar/30/clive-palmer-christian-porter-300bn-lawsuit-against-australian-government|last=Karp|first=Paul|title=Clive Palmer hires Christian Porter for $300bn lawsuit against Australian government |work=The Guardian|date=30 March 2023|access-date=30 March 2023}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/wage-rise-naysayers-were-wrong-mcmanus-20230330-p5cwj6|last1=Moore|first1=Georgie|last2=Kwan|first2=Campbell|title=Anthony Albanese mocks Clive Palmer's $300b lawsuit|work=Australian Financial Review|date=29 March 2023|access-date=30 March 2023}} McGowan responded to the claim saying, "Today we have seen the most deplorable act of greed in Australian history", and "Clive Palmer is the greediest man in Australian history".{{Cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-03-30/clive-palmer-to-sue-australia-for-300b-over-iron-ore-project/102166246|last1=Weber|first1=David|last2=Perpitch|first2=Nicholas|title=Clive Palmer to sue Australia for $300 billion over iron ore project |work=ABC News |date=30 March 2023|access-date=30 March 2023}} The Attorney-General, Mark Dreyfus, said that the Commonwealth will "vigorously defend" the suit.{{Cite news|url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/clive-palmer-sues-for-300-billion-in-damages-from-commonwealth-20230330-p5cwqz.htm|last=Hastie|first=Hamish|title=Clive Palmer sues for $300 billion in damages from Commonwealth|work=Sydney Morning Herald|date=30 March 2023|access-date=30 March 2023}}

{{Main|Palmer Nickel and Cobalt Refinery|Queensland Nickel}}

In 2009, he bought Queensland Nickel and the Palmer Nickel and Cobalt Refinery after BHP was going to close the refinery.{{cite web |url=http://www.qni.com.au/about-qn/pages/our-history.aspx.html |title=Queensland Nickel: Our History |publisher=Queensland Nickel |access-date=16 January 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150903023347/http://www.qni.com.au/about-qn/pages/our-history.aspx.html |archive-date=3 September 2015 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }} In the first year after purchasing the refinery, Palmer gifted staff 50 Mercedes Benz cars and thousands of overseas holidays after the refinery turned a huge profit.{{cite news |url=http://www.smartcompany.com.au/finance/wealth-management/17551-20101122-billionaire-clive-palmer-gives-staff-luxury-cars-and-holidays-in-a-christmas-bonus-bonanza/ |title=Billionaire Clive Palmer gives staff luxury cars and holidays in a Christmas bonus bonanza |work=SmartCompany |publisher=Private Media Pty Ltd |date=21 November 2010 |access-date=15 April 2016 |author=Thomson, James |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160504074331/http://www.smartcompany.com.au/finance/wealth-management/17551-20101122-billionaire-clive-palmer-gives-staff-luxury-cars-and-holidays-in-a-christmas-bonus-bonanza/ |archive-date=4 May 2016 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }} On 18 January 2016, Queensland Nickel entered voluntary administration.{{cite news |title=Clive Palmer's Queensland Nickel goes into voluntary administration |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-01-18/qld-nickel-goes-into-voluntary-administration/7094818 |access-date=18 January 2016 |work=ABC News |ref=abc-vol-admin |location=Australia |date=18 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160119235007/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-01-18/qld-nickel-goes-into-voluntary-administration/7094818 |archive-date=19 January 2016 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }} Palmer declined to pay the entitlements of workers who lost their jobs when Queensland Nickel closed, stating that "I have no personal responsibility, I retired from business over three years ago".{{cite news |title=Clive Palmer: Sacked Queensland Nickel worker payouts not my burden |url=https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/clive-palmer-sacked-queensland-nickel-worker-payouts-not-my-burden-20160126-gme28b.html |access-date=18 April 2019 |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |author=AAP |date=26 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190418100722/https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/clive-palmer-sacked-queensland-nickel-worker-payouts-not-my-burden-20160126-gme28b.html |archive-date=18 April 2019 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }} He also blamed the administrators for sacking the workforce. This forced the Federal Government to cover the workers' entitlements.{{cite news |last1=Bavas |first1=Josh |title=Clive Palmer promises to pay back workers' entitlements while denying sacking anyone |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-04-15/clive-palmer-offers-to-pay-back-queensland-nickel-workers/11003030 |access-date=18 April 2019 |work=ABC News |date=15 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190415225648/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-04-15/clive-palmer-offers-to-pay-back-queensland-nickel-workers/11003030 |archive-date=15 April 2019 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}

In April 2019 Palmer announced that he intended to re-open the Queensland Nickel refinery and pay the $7.16 million still owed to workers following the 2019 federal election.{{cite news |last1=Bunch |first1=Aaron |title=Owed Qld refinery funds in trust: Palmer |url=https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/6088631/owed-qld-refinery-funds-in-trust-palmer/?cs=14231 |access-date=11 May 2019 |work=The Canberra Times |date=24 April 2019}}

The Special Purpose Liquidator of Queensland Nickel stated that Palmer's offer was inadequate as it did not cover the money owed to small businesses and was unclear whether he would repay the Federal Government. The Liquidator was seeking $200 million from Palmer, other individuals and related entities, with a trial to take place from July 2019. The Australian Government was also seeking to recover $70 million from Palmer personally to meet the costs of the payments it made to Queensland Nickel workers through the same trial.{{cite news |last1=Gothe-Snape |first1=Jackson |title=Clive Palmer over 1,000 days late repaying debt despite $27.5m election advertising blitz |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-04-04/clive-palmer-late-repaying-parliamentary-expenses-debt/10967984 |access-date=10 May 2019 |work=ABC News |date=4 April 2019}} Palmer stated in April 2019 that the administrators should repay the government as they were responsible for sacking the refinery's workers, and not him. The Canberra Times reported that 218 workers were made redundant shortly before the operation was placed into voluntary administration.

In August 2019 Palmer reached a settlement two weeks into a trial in the Queensland Supreme Court, understood to total $110m. He agreed to repay the federal government for the entitlements it has already paid under the Fair Entitlements Guarantee (FEG), “all other outstanding employee entitlements, and a full recovery for the majority of unsecured creditors”.{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2019/aug/05/clive-palmer-and-liquidators-set-to-settle-200m-queensland-nickel-lawsuit |title=Clive Palmer settles Queensland Nickel lawsuit, agrees to pay sacked workers|last=Smee|first=Ben |date=2019-08-05 |work=The Guardian|access-date=2019-09-05|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}} Palmer maintained his position that the scheme should never have been triggered by the liquidators in the first place and under the terms of the Settlement Agreement, the Special Purpose Liquidator withdrew all claims the SPL made against Palmer and all of the defendants associated with him.{{Citation needed|date=September 2019}} All parties paid their own costs in the court matter; Palmer personally appeared in court and represented himself.{{Citation needed|date=September 2019}}

A small number of debt claims against Mineralogy remain in dispute and before the courts. Palmer claimed that the settlement of the debts had left him “vindicated”. “Today's settlement confirms the actions against me were nothing more than a witch-hunt designed to smear my good reputation”, Palmer said.{{cite news|last1=Smee|first1=Ben|title=Clive Palmer held court in the Queensland Nickel trial. Then he settled|url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2019/aug/06/clive-palmer-held-court-in-the-queensland-nickel-trial-then-he-settled |work=The Guardian|access-date=6 August 2019 |date=6 August 2019}}

Palmer purchased the Coolum Hyatt Resort in 2011.{{cite news |last1=Hoffman |first1=Bill |title=Palmer Resort won't be restored until legal dispute is over |url=https://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/news/resort-wont-be-restored-until-legal-dispute-is-set/2885146/ |access-date=10 May 2019 |work=Sunshine Coast Daily |date=29 December 2015}} He later announced plans to build a park featuring animatronic dinosaurs there. Palmer ordered more than 160 animatronic dinosaurs, which included an initial shipment of a {{convert|3.5|m|adj=on}} tall, {{convert|20|m|adj=on}} 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.{{cite web |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-07-25/palmer-gets-go-ahead-to-build-worlds-biggest-dino-park/4842292 |title=Clive Palmer gets go-ahead to build world's biggest dinosaur park at Coolum Resort |last1=Skinner |first1=Jo |last2=Atkinson |first2=Bruce |date=25 July 2013 |work=ABC News |location=Australia |access-date=28 July 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130728063330/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-07-25/palmer-gets-go-ahead-to-build-worlds-biggest-dino-park/4842292 |archive-date=28 July 2013 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }} On 14 December 2013, the dinosaur park, now called "Palmersaurus", was opened to the public.{{cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-03-03/clive-palmer's-dinosaur-park:-a-jurassic-idea/6276588 |title=Clive Palmer's dinosaur park Palmersaurus: Fun facts and controversies |work=ABC News |location=Australia |date=3 March 2015 |access-date=15 April 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160415133506/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-03-03/clive-palmer's-dinosaur-park:-a-jurassic-idea/6276588 |archive-date=15 April 2016 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }} Palmer's installation of dinosaurs along the side of the resort's golf course led the Australian PGA Championship to be relocated from it.{{cite news |title=Palmersaurus: Australian billionaire faces political extinction |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-36195818 |access-date=10 May 2019 |work=BBC News |date=4 May 2016}}

The Palmer Coolum Resort was mothballed in 2015 due to low occupancy rates, with 600 people losing their jobs over the period after Palmer purchased the complex. In 2017, the ABC reported that "once regarded as one of south-east Queensland's most prestigious resorts, the site is a shadow of its former self and has been the centre of a legal battle between retirees who own villa shares and Clive Palmer".{{cite news |last1=Sundstrom |first1=Kathy |title=Clive Palmer's Coolum Resort lists units on Airbnb for a premium |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-12-13/clive-palmers-coolum-resort-lists-villas-on-airbnb/9255274 |access-date=18 April 2019 |work=ABC News |date=13 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180812084912/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-12-13/clive-palmers-coolum-resort-lists-villas-on-airbnb/9255274 |archive-date=12 August 2018 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }} In 2018 the Australian Securities and Investments Commission charged Palmer with violations of the Corporation Act in relation to an attempt to take over timeshare villas at the resort in 2012. Palmer has stated that the charges are an attempt to stop him standing for election.{{cite news |last1=Sibson |first1=Elle |title=Clive Palmer loses Supreme Court bid to have criminal charges against him dropped |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-01-23/clive-palmer-loses-court-bid-to-have-asic-charges-dropped/10739118 |access-date=18 April 2019 |work=ABC News |date=23 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190419045911/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-01-23/clive-palmer-loses-court-bid-to-have-asic-charges-dropped/10739118 |archive-date=19 April 2019 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}

Palmer purchased the Gold Coast United football club in 2008.{{Cite news |url=http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/soccer/coast-team-in-rich-hands/story-e6frepmf-1111116562488 |title=Billionaire Clive Palmer has big plans for Coast club |author1=Monteverde, Marco |author2=Malone, Paul |access-date=29 February 2012 |date=7 June 2008 |newspaper=The Courier-Mail }} In October 2009, he made a decision to cap attendances of Gold Coast United home games at Skilled Park stadium to 5,000, in a bid to save money by avoiding transport subsidies on crowds over 5,000. After a widespread backlash and only 2,616 fans attending the next home game, and the intervention of Football Federation Australia (FFA), the idea was scrapped.{{cite news|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/clive-palmer-agrees-to-scrap-crowd-cap/story-e6frg7mf-1225793719478|title=Clive Palmer agrees to scrap crowd cap|date=3 November 2009|access-date=5 November 2009 |work=The Australian |first1=Ray|last1=Gatt}}

On 29 February 2012, Ben Buckley and Frank Lowy announced that Palmer's licence 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.{{Cite news |url=http://www.goldcoast.com.au/article/2012/02/29/395391_sport.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130408050930/http://www.goldcoast.com.au/article/2012/02/29/395391_sport.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=8 April 2013 |title=FFA revokes Gold Coast United's licence |access-date=29 February 2012 |date=29 February 2012 |work=Gold Coast Bulletin }} Lowy stated that he acted to protect the integrity of the sport. However, Palmer stipulated that he would contest the decisions through legal action and claimed Lowy was a dictator.{{Cite news |url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/sport/gold-coast-owner-clive-palmer-loses-a-league-licence/story-e6frg7mf-1226285136612 |title=Gold Coast owner Clive Palmer loses A-League licence |author=Gatt, Ray |access-date=29 February 2012 |date=29 February 2012 |newspaper=The Australian |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120229081809/http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/sport/gold-coast-owner-clive-palmer-loses-a-league-licence/story-e6frg7mf-1226285136612 |archive-date=29 February 2012 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }} Despite a ruling ordering the removal of "Freedom of Speech" logos on team shirts, Palmer indicated they would remain.{{Cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-02-29/palmer-poses-peace-offering-to-lowy/3860068?section=qld |title=Palmer poses peace offering to Lowy |access-date=29 February 2012 |date=29 February 2012 |author=AAP |work=ABC News |location=Australia |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140512221917/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-02-29/palmer-poses-peace-offering-to-lowy/3860068?section=qld |archive-date=12 May 2014 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }} On 2 March 2012, Palmer lost his Supreme Court bid against Gold Coast United's expulsion from the A-League.{{Cite news |url=http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/sport/a-league/palmer-loses-bid-to-save-club-20120302-1u85b.html |title=Palmer loses bid to save club |author=Remeikis. Amy |access-date=4 March 2012 |date=2 March 2012 |work=Brisbane Times |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120304080202/http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/sport/a-league/palmer-loses-bid-to-save-club-20120302-1u85b.html |archive-date=4 March 2012 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}

In 2012, after the FFA revoked his Gold Coast United A-League licence, Palmer founded Football Australia – a competing organisation for the sport of football in Australia.{{cite news |agency=AAP |title='We kick harder' – Clive Palmer sets up rebel football organisation |url=http://www.theage.com.au/sport/a-league/we-kick-harder--clive-palmer-sets-up-rebel-football-organisation-20120301-1u5dn.html |access-date=2 May 2014 |newspaper=The Age |date=1 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150825100124/http://www.theage.com.au/sport/a-league/we-kick-harder--clive-palmer-sets-up-rebel-football-organisation-20120301-1u5dn.html |archive-date=25 August 2015 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}

{{Main|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 was planned that Titanic II would be built in China and make its maiden voyage from Southampton to New York City in 2016 (later postponed to 2018). Palmer hoped to recreate the Titanic as closely as possible to its familiar external and internal appearance. According to Palmer, the Titanic II would be {{convert|883|ft}} long, weigh {{convert|55,800|long ton}} gross, and carry 2,435 passengers and 900 crew. Palmer said the Titanic II would honour the memories of those who died and survived on the Titanic. The Titanic was operated by the White Star Line and Palmer's company is named Blue Star Line.

During the first half of 2015, evidence accumulated strongly suggesting that the project had been abandoned. The Blue Star Line trademark was listed as "abandoned".{{cite web |title=Trademark Category > Chemical Products > TITANIC II BLUE STAR LINE |url=http://www.trademarkia.com/titanic-ii-blue-star-line-79142812.html |website=LegalForce Trademarks |publisher=Trademarkia, Inc. |access-date=15 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180825180248/https://www.trademarkia.com/titanic-ii-blue-star-line-79142812.html |archive-date=25 August 2018 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }} No construction had been ordered in the Chinese shipyard identified as the likely building site with the workers highly skeptical that the project would ever move beyond the proposal stage.{{cite news |url=http://www.9news.com.au/national/2015/03/20/11/16/palmers-titanic-ii-plans-all-but-scuttled |title=Palmer's Titanic II plans all but scuttled |work=9News.com |date=20 March 2015 |access-date=15 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180825181301/https://www.9news.com.au/national/2015/03/20/11/16/palmers-titanic-ii-plans-all-but-scuttled |archive-date=25 August 2018 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }} In May 2016 it was reported by the administrators for an insolvent Palmer company, Queensland Nickel, that no significant money had been spent on the development of Titanic II in over two years.{{cite news|last1=McNeilly|first1=Claire|title=Plans to build replica Titanic all at sea as Oz tycoon Clive Palmer gets cold feet|url=http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/world-news/plans-to-build-replica-titanic-all-at-sea-as-oz-tycoon-clive-palmer-gets-cold-feet-34699561.html|access-date=15 October 2018|publisher=Belfast Telegraph|date=10 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180825180136/https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/world-news/plans-to-build-replica-titanic-all-at-sea-as-oz-tycoon-clive-palmer-gets-cold-feet-34699561.html|archive-date=25 August 2018|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}} On 27 September 2018, in a press release on its official web site, the Blue Star Line announced that work on the project would recommence.{{cite press release |author= |title=Palmer Building Titanic II |url=https://www.bluestarline.com.au/palmer-building-titanic-ll/ |publisher=Blue Star Line |date=27 September 2018 |access-date=18 May 2019}}

On 13 March 2024, Palmer held a press conference to announce his revival of the Titanic II project. He anticipated that construction would begin in 2025, although a shipyard had yet to be selected. Citing the COVID-19 Pandemic as a major factor, prior plans for the ship did not push through, while promising the contract tender for the construction released and signed by June and December 2024, respectively.{{Cite news |last=McLeod |first=Catie |date=2024-03-13 |title=All tip and no iceberg? Clive Palmer refloats Titanic II plans 10 years after first announcement |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/mar/13/clive-palmer-titanic-ii-relaunch-plans-sydney-opera-house |access-date=2024-05-23 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}{{Cite web |last=Whiteman |first=Hilary |date=2024-03-13 |title=Does the world want a Titanic II? This billionaire thinks so |url=https://www.cnn.com/2024/03/13/travel/australia-clive-palmer-relaunches-titanic-two-intl-hnk/index.html |access-date=2024-05-23 |website=CNN |language=en}}

{{See also|COVID-19 misinformation}}

In March 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic was spreading in Australia, Palmer placed a prominent media advertisement offering to personally fund one million doses of a "cure" for the disease. The medication would include hydroxychloroquine, which is established in other countries as an anti-malarial drug but is known to have serious side-effects. The Australian drugs regulator, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), had warned that this drug and its derivatives “pose well-known serious risks to patients including cardiac toxicity potentially leading to sudden heart attacks, irreversible eye damage and severe depletion of blood sugar potentially leading to coma”. The TGA stated that it was considering legal action against Palmer. Other experts also criticised Palmer, concerning safety as well as the ethics of potentially producing a shortage of the drug in countries where it is needed to combat malaria.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/27/experts-condemn-clive-palmer-funded-ads-claiming-hydroxychloroquine-can-cure-coronavirus|last=Davey|first=Melissa|title=TGA investigating Clive Palmer-funded ads claiming hydroxychloroquine can cure coronavirus|work=The Guardian|date=27 March 2020|access-date=27 March 2020}} However, it was later confirmed that the federal health department planned to import hydroxychloroquine for emergency use, with a written agreement for partial funding by Palmer.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/07/controversial-malaria-drug-hydroxychloroquine-to-be-given-to-coronavirus-patients-in-australia|last=Davey|first=Melissa|title=Controversial drug hydroxychloroquine to be given to coronavirus patients in Australia|work=The Guardian|date=7 April 2020|access-date=7 April 2020}} On 28 April, Palmer placed further prominent advertisements in News Corp media, claiming to have purchased 32.9 million doses of hydroxychloroquine. The TGA stated that no action would be taken with respect to either set of advertisements, since they were "assessed as not intended to promote the sale of the product”. However, the President of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, Harry Nespolon, warned that trials of the drug were still ongoing and were "not looking particularly promising”. He was also concerned that "people may think that a cure is imminent and be lulled into a false sense of security so that they don't exercise social distancing responsibilities”.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/apr/28/clive-palmer-ad-for-coronavirus-cure-cleared-by-australian-drug-regulator |last=Davey|first=Melissa|title=Clive Palmer ad for coronavirus 'cure' cleared by Australian drug regulator|work=The Guardian|date=28 April 2020|access-date=28 April 2020}} News Corp newspapers are paywalled.

In June 2021, as the COVID-19 pandemic continued, a Queensland radio network stopped playing an advertisement from Palmer that had stated:

:Australia has had one COVID-19 associated death in 2021. But the TGA reports that there's been 210 deaths and over 24,000 adverse reactions after COVID vaccinations. Authorised by Clive Palmer, Brisbane.

The TGA had warned the network and Palmer that this was seriously misleading to the public: the figure of 210 deaths a few days or weeks after vaccination was statistically normal; only one of those deaths could be linked to the vaccination itself.{{cite news|last=Meade|first=Amanda|date=9 June 2021|title=Clive Palmer anti-vaccine ads pulled over false claims about hundreds of deaths|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/jun/09/clive-palmer-anti-vaccine-ads-pulled-over-false-claims-about-hundreds-of-deaths|access-date=9 June 2021}}

The same month, it was reported that Palmer had sent letters to households across Australia urging against vaccination for COVID-19, based on the discredited death figures.{{Cite news|url=https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/ludicrous-clive-palmer-slammed-for-letters-spreading-covid-19-misinformation-20210620-p582ju.html|last=Galloway|first=Anthony|title='Ludicrous': Clive Palmer slammed for letters spreading COVID-19 misinformation|work=The Age|date=20 June 2021|access-date=21 June 2021}} This was reported again in July, and that Palmer had disregarded a further warning from the TGA.{{cite news |title=Clive Palmer Is Distributing Anti-vaccination Propaganda In Regional NSW's Vulnerable Communities |url=https://junkee.com/clive-palmer-anti-vaxx-nsw/302150 |access-date=30 July 2021 |first=Merryana |last=Salem |work=Junkee |date=18 July 2021}}{{cite news |title=Clive Palmer disregards TGA call to stop spreading 'misleading' vaccine material |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/jul/30/clive-palmer-disregards-tga-call-to-stop-spreading-misleading-vaccine-material |work=The Guardian |date=30 July 2021 |first=Sarah |last=Martin |access-date=30 July 2021}}

Palmer had requested that his name and logo be printed on the doses of donated hydroxychloroquine. The Department of Health denied Palmer's request.{{cite news |last1=Knaus |first1=Christopher |last2=McGowan |first2=Michael |title=One tonne of Clive Palmer hydroxychloroquine sent for destruction after dispute with TGA |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/oct/13/five-million-doses-of-hydroxychloroquine-destroyed-after-stand-off-between-clive-palmer-and-government |work=The Guardian |date=12 October 2021}}

{{See main|Palmer v Western Australia}}

In July 2020, Palmer claimed that the closing of the borders by the Western Australian government owing to the COVID-19 pandemic was unconstitutional and challenged the WA legislation in the Federal Court. In response the Western Australian Premier Mark McGowan labelled Palmer an enemy of the state.{{cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/i-think-he-s-the-enemy-of-australia-mcgowan-ramps-up-war-of-words-with-palmer-on-wa-border-battle-20200731-p55hdj.html|title='I think he's the enemy of Australia': McGowan ramps up war of words with Palmer on WA border battle|access-date=31 July 2020|date=31 July 2020|author1=Daile Cross|author2=Nathan Hondros|publisher=Fairfax Media|work=The Sydney Morning Herald}} Palmer also claimed that the border closure would "destroy the lives of hundreds of thousands of people for decades" and compared the death toll of COVID-19 with that of road accidents and influenza.{{cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-07-30/clive-palmer-claims-coronavirus-border-policy-destroying-lives/12506720|last=Weber|first=David|title=Clive Palmer claims Mark McGowan's coronavirus hard border will destroy lives of West Australians|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|date=30 July 2020|access-date=31 July 2020}} By August, the Prime Minister of Australia Scott Morrison withdrew support of Palmer's legal challenge after receiving a public backlash on his previous supportive stance. Mark McGowan praised the Commonwealth for its withdrawal and indicated the Western Australian government would continue to fight the case and urging Palmer to withdraw the case labelling him "Australia's greatest egomaniac" and an "Olympic scale narcissist".{{cite news|url=https://www.watoday.com.au/politics/western-australia/morrison-drops-commonwealth-involvement-in-palmer-s-hard-border-legal-fight-20200802-p55hon.html|last1=Hondros|first1=Nathan|last2=Pilat|first2=Lauren|title=Morrison drops Commonwealth involvement in Palmer's 'hard border' legal fight|work=WA Today|date=2 August 2020|access-date=2 August 2020}}

As the issues moved to the constitutional level, they came to involve possible conflict between major constitutional principles: parliamentary sovereignty and the rule of law.{{cite news|url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/what-are-the-disputes-involving-clive-palmer-and-the-wa-government-about-20200819-p55ndk.html|last=Hondros|first=Nathan|title=What are the disputes involving Clive Palmer and the WA government about?|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=20 August 2020|access-date=22 August 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://auspublaw.org/2020/the-palmer-act|last=Seddon|first=Nick|title=The Palmer Act|website=AUSPUBLAW|date=31 August 2020|access-date=31 August 2020}}{{Dead link|date=March 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}{{cite web|url=https://auspublaw.org/2020/09/clive-palmer-takes-a-sovereign-risk-challenging-the-authority-of-wa-parliament/|last=Brown|first=Natalie|title=Clive Palmer takes a sovereign risk challenging the authority of WA Parliament|website=AUSPUBLAW|date=9 September 2020|access-date=9 September 2020}} On 6 November 2020, the High Court upheld the legislation.It published its reasons on 24 February 2021: {{cite AustLII|litigants=Palmer v Western Australia|link=|HCA|5|2021|pinpoint=|parallelcite=|date=|courtname=|juris=|ref=}}.{{cite web|url=https://auspublaw.org/2021/06/palmer-v-western-australia-2021-95-aljr-229-2021-hca-5/|last=Hume|first=David|title=Palmer v Western Australia (2021) 95 ALJR 229; [2021] HCA 5: trade, commerce and intercourse shall be absolutely free (except when it need not)|website=AUSPUBLAW|date=23 June 2021|access-date=23 June 2021}} Challenges to the constitutionality of amendments to the Act made in 2020 failed in the High Court on 13 October 2021.{{cite AustLII|litigants=Mineralogy Pty v Western Australia|link=|HCA|30|2021}}.{{cite AustLII|litigants=Palmer v Western Australia|link=|HCA|31|2021}}. Mineralogy is referred to as the "principal proceeding".

In this context, Palmer sued McGowan for defamation and McGowan counter-sued Palmer for defamation. The Federal Court found on 2 August 2022 that each had defamed the other, awarded each a relatively small amount in damages and warned that such a dispute between prominent political figures should never have wasted the court's time and resources.{{cite news|url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/judge-blasts-mcgowan-palmer-for-wasting-court-time-after-defamation-case-ends-in-draw-20220802-p5b6m9.html|last=Hastie|first=Hamish|title=Judge blasts McGowan, Palmer for wasting court time after defamation case ends in draw|work=Sydney Morning Herald|date=2 August 2022|access-date=3 August 2022}}

In August 2021, Australian airline Qantas announced that it would require all of its 22,000 employees to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.{{cite web|last=Khadem|first=Nassim|title=Qantas makes COVID-19 vaccinations mandatory for all of its workers|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-08-18/qantas-mandatory-vaccinations-covid19-workers-pandemic/100386206|work=ABC News|date=17 August 2021|access-date=18 October 2021}} In reaction to this, the Palmer Group sold off its entire stake in Qantas.{{cite web|last=Coulton|first=Ali|title=Clive Palmer Offloads Qantas Shares in Protest of Airline's Staff Vaccination Policy|url=https://www.travelweekly.com.au/article/clive-palmer-offloads-qantas-shares-protest-airlines-staff-vaccination-policy|website=Travel Weekly|date=15 October 2021|access-date=18 October 2021}}

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.{{cite web |title=Graduation – past ceremonies |url=http://www.deakin.edu.au/current-students/study-information/graduation/past-ceremonies/2008/geelong/2april20085pm.php |work=Waterfront Campus |publisher=Deakin University |date=2 April 2008 |access-date=28 September 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120129030458/http://www.deakin.edu.au/current-students/study-information/graduation/past-ceremonies/2008/geelong/2april20085pm.php |archive-date=29 January 2012 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }} In 2008, Palmer was appointed adjunct professor of management at Bond University on the Gold Coast.{{cite web |url=https://scoc.worldsecuresystems.com/speakers/prof-clive-palmer-guest-speaker-bio |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121217231517/https://scoc.worldsecuresystems.com/speakers/prof-clive-palmer-guest-speaker-bio |archive-date=17 December 2012 |title =Professor Clive and Mrs Anna Palmer |publisher=Southport Chamber of Commerce |access-date=28 February 2013 |url-status=dead}}

In December 2012, Palmer was appointed joint secretary general of the World Leadership Alliance, a democracy-promoting council that included former US president Bill Clinton and Myanmar's opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Palmer was named president of the alliance's business chapter, the World Economic Council.{{Cite news |url=https://www.afr.com/politics/palmer-joins-clinton-suu-kyi-in-alliance-20121218-j1c0t |title=Palmer joins Clinton, Suu Kyi in alliance |work=The Australian Financial Review |location=Melbourne |date=18 December 2012 |author=AAP |access-date=27 December 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140825034125/http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/breaking-news/palmer-joins-clinton-suu-kyi-in-alliance/story-e6frf7kf-1226539644742 |archive-date=25 August 2014 |url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}{{cite web|url=http://www.clubmadrid.org/global-leaders-form-world-leadership-alliance|title=Global leaders form World Leadership Alliance|website=World Leadership Alliance Club de Madrid|date=18 December 2012|access-date=1 March 2020}}

In December 2012, on Christmas Day, Palmer hosted a buffet lunch for 650 disadvantaged people, mostly children and their families.{{Cite news |url=http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/clive-palmer-hosts-600-disadvantaged-at-christmas-day-lunch/story-e6freoof-1226543294130 |title=Clive Palmer hosts 600 disadvantaged people at Christmas Day lunch at Palmer Coolum Resort |author=Shorten, Kristin |access-date=27 December 2012 |date=25 December 2012 |newspaper=The Courier-Mail |location=Brisbane }}

In July 2013, Palmer was referred to in an iPhone application as making light of Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard by having sandwiches thrown at her. News Corp Australia publications were critical of the app, calling it sexist, while referring to his weight in an opinion poll with an option saying "We should have one for big Clive Palmer".{{Cite web|url=https://www.tweeddailynews.com.au/news/app-lets-you-give-julia-rudd-roll-and-tony-baloney/1934109/|title=App lets you give Julia the Rudd Roll and Tony Baloney|website=Tweed Daily News|language=en|access-date=2019-08-08}}

On 4 March 2012, Palmer was named, amid controversy,{{cite news |author1=Sams, Christine |author2=Marriner, Cosima |url=http://www.smh.com.au/national/national-living-treasure-uproar-20120303-1u9ql.html |title=National living treasure uproar |work=Sydney Morning Herald |date=4 March 2012 |access-date=16 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120306014130/http://www.smh.com.au/national/national-living-treasure-uproar-20120303-1u9ql.html |archive-date=6 March 2012 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }} as a National Living Treasure by the New South Wales Branch of the National Trust of Australia.{{cite news |title=Seven added to national living treasure list |author=Farrow, Lauren |work=Canberra Times |date=5 March 2012 |url=http://www.canberratimes.com.au/national/seven-added-to-national-living-treasure-list-20120304-1ubaq.html |access-date=8 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120305101725/http://www.canberratimes.com.au/national/seven-added-to-national-living-treasure-list-20120304-1ubaq.html |archive-date=5 March 2012 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}{{Cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-03-04/27living-treasure27-palmer-takes-swipe-at-swan/3867588 |title=National Living Treasure Palmer takes swipe at Swan |access-date=4 March 2012 |date=4 March 2012 |work=ABC News |location=Australia |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120304121109/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-03-04/27living-treasure27-palmer-takes-swipe-at-swan/3867588 |archive-date=4 March 2012 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }} The Australian reported that workers at his nickel refinery were encouraged to vote for him.{{cite news |url=https://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/investigations/clive-palmer/sacked-workers-told-vote-for-clive-palmer-as-national-treasure/news-story/1404646445de320c0f8218ff4981ff47 |access-date=29 May 2025 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240508170358/https://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/investigations/clive-palmer/sacked-workers-told-vote-for-clive-palmer-as-national-treasure/news-story/1404646445de320c0f8218ff4981ff47?amp&nk=ec85f53f8fe49e6aae85bec0313fa74a-1715187847 |archive-date=8 May 2024 |title=Sacked workers told 'vote for Clive Palmer' as national treasure |date=19 September 2016 |work=The Australian |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |first=Sarah |last=Elks}}

In 2015, Palmer donated a house, car and food to victims of a house fire in Beenleigh that saw their son tragically lose his life.{{cite news |url=http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/clive-palmer-donates-house-to-beenleigh-fire-family-who-lost-toddler-20150604-ghh9v9.html |title=Clive Palmer donates house to Beenleigh fire family who lost toddler |work=Brisbane Times |date=5 June 2015 |access-date=15 April 2016 |author=Stephens, Kim |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170105030812/http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/clive-palmer-donates-house-to-beenleigh-fire-family-who-lost-toddler-20150604-ghh9v9.html |archive-date=5 January 2017 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}

Palmer has been a regular poster of memes on his official Facebook page. The memes often have nonsensical or ironic undertones, and contain reoccurring themes – such as Rupert Murdoch's control of the media in Australia, contrasting himself with other political figures such as Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, or paying homage to Tim Tam packets and his pet "Grog Dog".{{Cite web|url=http://www.theisthmus.com.au/2017/03/clive-palmers-descent-into-insanity-or-why-memes-shouldnt-be-used-in-politics/|title=Clive Palmer's Descent Into Insanity (Or Why Memes Shouldn't be Used in Politics)|last=Wood|first=Samuel|date=24 March 2017|website=The Isthmus|access-date=17 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180119060554/http://www.theisthmus.com.au/2017/03/clive-palmers-descent-into-insanity-or-why-memes-shouldnt-be-used-in-politics/|archive-date=19 January 2018|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/you-think-clive-palmers-tim-tam-tweets-are-strange-he-says-its-poetry-20170307-gus8ci.html|title=You think Clive Palmer's Tim Tam tweets are strange? He says it's poetry|last=Wright|first=Tony|date=8 March 2017|website=Sydney Morning Herald|access-date=18 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180118191050/http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/you-think-clive-palmers-tim-tam-tweets-are-strange-he-says-its-poetry-20170307-gus8ci.html|archive-date=18 January 2018|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}} Palmer was once required to provide an affidavit explaining a tweet sent out during a hearing on 1 December 2017.{{Cite web|url=https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/queensland/judge-orders-clive-palmer-to-explain-hey-memesters-tweet-20171207-p4yxhc.html|title=Judge orders Clive Palmer to explain 'Hey memesters' tweet|last=Branco|first=Jorge|date=7 December 2017|website=Brisbane Times|access-date=18 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180118182107/https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/queensland/judge-orders-clive-palmer-to-explain-hey-memesters-tweet-20171207-p4yxhc.html|archive-date=18 January 2018|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-12-07/clive-palmer-ordered-to-explain--tweet-by-federal-court/9235508|title=Clive Palmer ordered to explain tweet sent while absent from Queensland Nickel court hearing|last=Robertson|first=Josh|date=7 December 2017|work=ABC News|access-date=18 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180110214902/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-12-07/clive-palmer-ordered-to-explain--tweet-by-federal-court/9235508|archive-date=10 January 2018|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}

In September 2019, Palmer threatened to sue internet comedian Jordan Shanks for $500,000 for defamation relating to a YouTube video posted before the May 2019 election. The video created by Shanks called Palmer a "dense Humpty Dumpty" and a profane nickname that stated Palmer was a "Fatty McFuckhead". Shanks responded that he had not defamed Palmer and being required to prove his claims in court would not help Palmer.{{cite news|url=https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/clive-palmer-sues-youtuber-jordan-shanks-for-defamation/news-story/fcb1a940a36921c0ca0aa7725e1c6a4b|first=Paul|last=Garvey|title=Clive Palmer sues YouTuber Jordan Shanks for defamation|work=The Australian|date=24 September 2019|access-date=24 September 2019}}{{subscription required}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-49820738|title=YouTuber threatened over 'dense Humpty' depiction|website=BBC News|date=25 September 2019|access-date=4 May 2020}}

In September 2023, the Federal Court dismissed a claim against the Australian Electoral Commission by Palmer and United Australia senator Ralph Babet that the ballot paper planned for the forthcoming constitutional referendum on an Indigenous Voice was unacceptably flawed, although that design had been used for referendums over several decades.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/sep/20/indigenous-voice-to-parliament-referendum-united-australia-party-crosses-votes-dismissed|last=Karp|first=Paul|title=Court dismisses United Australia party push to count crosses as valid votes in voice referendum|work=The Guardian|date=20 September 2023|access-date=20 September 2023}}

Palmer was active in the Liberal Movement headed by then-Premier of South Australia Steele Hall in the 1970s.{{cite news |author=Kemp, Miles |url=http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/former-sa-resident-clive-palmer-wants-to-field-candidates-in-2014-state-election/story-fni6uo1m-1226738681487 |title=Former SA resident Clive Palmer wants to field candidates in 2014 state election |work=The Advertiser |location=Adelaide |date=12 October 2013 |access-date=5 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140218074302/http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/former-sa-resident-clive-palmer-wants-to-field-candidates-in-2014-state-election/story-fni6uo1m-1226738681487 |archive-date=18 February 2014 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }} He joined the Queensland division of the Nationals in 1974, having been influenced by the policies of Joh Bjelke-Petersen, Premier of Queensland at the time.{{cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/austory/content/2012/s3497389.htm |format=transcript |title=Larger Than Life |work=Australian Story |publisher=ABC TV |location=Australia |date=7 May 2012 |access-date=26 April 2013 |quote=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. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130417013916/http://www.abc.net.au/austory/content/2012/s3497389.htm |archive-date=17 April 2013 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }} From the early 1980s, 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.{{cite news |author=Syvret, Paul |url=http://www.couriermail.com.au/business/calamity-clive-has-queenslands-richest-man-clive-palmer-lost-the-plot/story-fn7kjcme-1226287933790 |title=Calamity Clive: Has Queensland's richest man Clive Palmer lost the plot? |work=The Courier-Mail |date=3 March 2012 |access-date=26 April 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120404135644/http://www.couriermail.com.au/business/calamity-clive-has-queenslands-richest-man-clive-palmer-lost-the-plot/story-fn7kjcme-1226287933790 |archive-date=4 April 2012 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}

Palmer was a backer of the aborted "Joh for Canberra" campaign, which attempted to get Queensland Premier Bjelke-Petersen elected as Prime Minister of Australia at the 1987 federal election.{{cite news |url=http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/articles/2007/07/20/1184560003802.html |title=The Queensland 2006 rich list |work=Brisbane Times |date=20 July 2007 |access-date=26 April 2013 |quote=Palmer is a life member of the National Party and was the party's media spokesman during the 1986 state election. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130618184652/http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/articles/2007/07/20/1184560003802.html |archive-date=18 June 2013 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }} Palmer was elected to life membership of the party in 1992, which he retained after the state branches of the Nationals and Liberal Party merged to form the Liberal National Party of Queensland in 2008.

Palmer was an unsuccessful republican candidate at the 1997 Australian Constitutional Convention election, heading the eleven-member "Elect the President" ticket. The group polled 1.7 percent of first-preference votes in Queensland.{{cite web|url=https://www.aec.gov.au/elections/constitutional_convention/files/report.pdf|title=Constitutional Convention Report|date=2 February 1998|website=Australian Electoral Commission |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240728103747/https://www.aec.gov.au/elections/constitutional_convention/files/report.pdf |archive-date=28 July 2024}}

In late April 2012, Palmer announced that he would contest Liberal National Party preselection for the Division of Lilley at the 2013 federal election, held by Wayne Swan, the then Deputy Prime Minister and Treasurer.{{cite news |author1=Fraser, Andrew |author2=Vasek, Lanai |url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/clive-palmer-seeks-lnp-preselection-to-take-on-wayne-swan-in-the-next-federal-election/story-fn59niix-1226342404653 |title=Clive Palmer seeks LNP preselection to take on Wayne Swan in the next federal election |work=The Australian |date=2 May 2012 |access-date=26 April 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120430090803/http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/clive-palmer-seeks-lnp-preselection-to-take-on-wayne-swan-in-the-next-federal-election/story-fn59niix-1226342404653 |archive-date=30 April 2012 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}{{cite news |author=Berry, Petrina |url=http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/clive-palmer-to-stand-against-wayne-swan-20120430-1xtp9.html |title=Clive Palmer to stand against Wayne Swan |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=30 April 2012 |access-date=26 April 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140813002311/http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/clive-palmer-to-stand-against-wayne-swan-20120430-1xtp9.html |archive-date=13 August 2014 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }} However, in July that year, 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).{{cite news |url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/clive-palmer-dodges-wayne-swan-in-lilley/story-fn59niix-1226415757908 |title=Clive Palmer dodges Wayne Swan in Lilley |work=The Australian |date=3 July 2012 |first=Roseanne |last=Barrett |access-date=26 April 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120713154917/http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/clive-palmer-dodges-wayne-swan-in-lilley/story-fn59niix-1226415757908 |archive-date=13 July 2012 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}{{cite news |author=Wright, Jessica |url=http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/political-news/katter-warns-palmer-he-risks-the-knackery-20120705-21jhe.html |title=Katter warns Palmer he risks the knackery |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=5 July 2012 |access-date=26 April 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121110052531/http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/political-news/katter-warns-palmer-he-risks-the-knackery-20120705-21jhe.html |archive-date=10 November 2012 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}

Several months after announcing his intent to seek preselection, Palmer resigned his life membership of the Liberal National Party.{{cite news |url=http://www.goldcoast.com.au/article/2012/11/23/442366_gold-coast-news.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130627213253/http://www.goldcoast.com.au/article/2012/11/23/442366_gold-coast-news.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=27 June 2013 |title=Clive Palmer resigns from LNP |work=Gold Coast Bulletin |date=23 November 2012 |access-date=27 April 2013 }} His membership of the party had been suspended on 9 November 2012, following his comments on the actions of state government ministers.{{cite news |author=Feeney, Katherine |url=http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/palmer-suspended-from-lnp-20121108-2915i.html |title=Palmer suspended from LNP |work=Brisbane Times |date=9 November 2012 |access-date=27 April 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130720024248/http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/palmer-suspended-from-lnp-20121108-2915i.html |archive-date=20 July 2013 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }} He was re-instated to the party on 22 November, but resigned the same day.{{cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-11-22/palmer-quits-lnp/4387444 |title=Clive Palmer quits LNP on eve of showdown |work=ABC News |location=Australia |date=23 November 2012 |access-date=27 April 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130508044021/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-11-22/palmer-quits-lnp/4387444 |archive-date=8 May 2013 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}

In March 2012, Palmer accused Drew Hutton and Greenpeace of receiving funding from the CIA, due to Hutton's involvement in the preparation of a Greenpeace strategy titled "Stopping the Australian Coal Export Boom".{{cite news |url=http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/palmer-backs-away-from-cia-claims-20120321-1viok.html |title=Palmer backs away from CIA claims |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=21 March 2012 |first1=David |last1=Wroe |first2=Judith |last2=Ireland |access-date=5 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140906015554/http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/palmer-backs-away-from-cia-claims-20120321-1viok.html |archive-date=6 September 2014 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}{{Cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-03-20/cia-funding-activists-palmer-says/3901986 |title=CIA funding activists, Palmer says |access-date=22 March 2012 |date=20 March 2012 |work=ABC News |location=Australia |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120321223559/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-03-20/cia-funding-activists-palmer-says/3901986 |archive-date=21 March 2012 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }} His claims were dismissed by Greenpeace senior campaigner John Hepburn as "ludicrous", and he said that Greenpeace would not accept money from any government, corporation or secret service.{{Cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-03-20/palmer-says-green-groups-funded-by-cia/3901920 |title=Palmer says green groups funded by CIA |author=Wordsworth, Matt |access-date=22 March 2012 |date=20 March 2012 |work=ABC News |location=Australia |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120322025046/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-03-20/palmer-says-green-groups-funded-by-cia/3901920 |archive-date=22 March 2012 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }} His claims were also rejected by the CIA.{{Cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-03-21/cia-hits-back-at-palmer-conspiracy-claims/3903796 |title=CIA hits back at Palmer conspiracy claims |author=Griffiths, Emma |access-date=22 March 2012 |date=21 March 2012 |work=ABC News |location=Australia |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120322015109/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-03-21/cia-hits-back-at-palmer-conspiracy-claims/3903796 |archive-date=22 March 2012 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}

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 its registration in Queensland.{{cite news |url=http://news.brisbanetimes.com.au/breaking-news-national/palmer-to-reform-uap-party-for-election-20130425-2ihxh.html |title=Palmer to re-form UAP party for election |work=Brisbane Times |date=25 April 2013 |author=AAP |access-date=25 April 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130926031335/http://news.brisbanetimes.com.au/breaking-news-national/palmer-to-reform-uap-party-for-election-20130425-2ihxh.html |archive-date=26 September 2013 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }} Another representative of a former South Australian political party, The United Party, lodged a formal objection to the registration of the name "Palmer United Party" with the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC).{{cite news |url=http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/clive-palmer-faces-fresh-objections-to-party-name-20130703-2pbly.html#ixzz2fYW5LTCW |title=Clive Palmer faces fresh objections to party name |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=3 July 2013 |first=Royce |last=Millar |access-date=5 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924171334/http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/clive-palmer-faces-fresh-objections-to-party-name-20130703-2pbly.html#ixzz2fYW5LTCW |archive-date=24 September 2015 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }} The AEC further determined that the names "Uniting Australia Party" and "Palmer United Party" were distinct and the name "Palmer United Party" was not prohibited.{{cite web |url=http://www.aec.gov.au/Parties_and_Representatives/party_registration/Registration_Decisions/2013/5167.htm |title=Palmer United Party |publisher=Australian Electoral Commission |date=2013 |access-date=5 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150403180329/http://www.aec.gov.au/Parties_and_Representatives/party_registration/Registration_Decisions/2013/5167.htm |archive-date=3 April 2015 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}

Palmer ran as the candidate in the Sunshine Coast seat of Fairfax for his party in the 2013 Australian federal election. In the first count he won by only 7 votes over Liberal National Party (LNP) candidate Ted O'Brien, triggering an automatic recount. While he had won only 26.5 percent of the primary vote, Palmer overtook O'Brien on Labor and Green preferences. During the recount, he filed many challenges to votes cast for O'Brien, and made unsupported claims that the Australian Electoral Commission was tainted by corruption. Ultimately, he was confirmed as winner with 50.3% of the vote – a margin of 53 votes.{{Cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-10-31/clive-palmer-wins-fairfax/5061740 |title=Clive Palmer wins Sunshine Coast seat of Fairfax, says 'goodbye' Campbell Newman |access-date=23 May 2014 |date=1 November 2013 |work=ABC News |location=Australia |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140601185137/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-10-31/clive-palmer-wins-fairfax/5061740 |archive-date=1 June 2014 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}{{Cite web |url=https://blogs.crikey.com.au/pollbludger/fed2016/fairfax/ |first=William |last=Bowe |title=Fairfax |access-date=16 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171025073337/https://blogs.crikey.com.au/pollbludger/fed2016/fairfax/ |archive-date=25 October 2017 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}

His party was also successful in the Senate in 2013, where three of his party members were elected and won a shared balance of power. The senators were elected in Queensland, Western Australia and Tasmania. But soon the party fell into disarray. The Tasmanian Senator Jacqui Lambie resigned from the Palmer United Party on 24 November 2014 announcing that she would remain in the Senate as an independent. Lambie's resignation followed several weeks of disagreements with Palmer. The Queensland Senator Glenn Lazarus also quit the party on 13 March 2015 citing issues with Palmer.

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."{{cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-12-02/clive-palmer-maiden-speech-parliament/5129732 |work=ABC News |location=Australia |title=Watch Clive Palmer's maiden speech in full |date=2 December 2013 |access-date=3 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203142516/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-12-02/clive-palmer-maiden-speech-parliament/5129732 |archive-date=3 December 2013 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}{{cite web |url=http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id%3A%22chamber%2Fhansardr%2F7c9ab1c0-b8d7-4984-afcf-e66510c0be9b%2F0121%22 |title=Governor-General's Speech Address-in-Reply |work=House Hansard |publisher=Parliament of Australia |date=2 December 2013 |access-date=3 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140302020229/http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id%3A%22chamber%2Fhansardr%2F7c9ab1c0-b8d7-4984-afcf-e66510c0be9b%2F0121%22 |archive-date=2 March 2014 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}

Palmer was absent from Parliament more than any other MP in the 44th Parliament; he attended only 64 percent of sitting days in 2014 and 54 percent in 2015.{{cite news |url=http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/national/missing-in-action-clive-palmer-spent-the-least-time-in-parliament-of-any-federal-mp-last-year/news-story/f72922312d293b518d71c26a3df9779d |title=Missing in action: Clive Palmer spent the least time in Parliament of any Federal MP last year |work=Courier-Mail |location=Brisbane |date=29 January 2016 |access-date=15 April 2016 |author=Vickery, Kara }} He was rarely seen in his own electorate, preferring to reside at his Gold Coast residence. At one point, he went seven months without setting foot in Fairfax. His LNP opponent in 2013, O'Brien, claimed that many residents had come to him for help after not being able to get help from Palmer, to the point that many of them considered him their MP.{{cite news |url=http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/queensland-government/clive-palmer-not-seen-in-his-electorate-in-months/news-story/d292b03e9953402f1c1ec99e1130f8ae?nk=2245fac863c49f31f7bb797b94f4bdca-1460090740 |title=Clive Palmer not seen in his electorate in months |work=The Sunday Mail |location=Queensland |date=24 January 2016 |access-date=15 April 2016 |author=Donaghey, Kathleen }}

In May 2016, Palmer announced he would not seek reelection to his seat of Fairfax or run for the Senate and retire from politics.{{cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-05-04/clive-palmer-will-not-see-reelection-of-house-of-representative/7382498|title=Clive Palmer will not seek re-election in House of Representatives|work=ABC News|date=4 May 2016}}{{cite web |url=http://www.9news.com.au/National/2016/05/23/11/27/Clive-Palmer-rules-out-Senate-seat-run |title='Everyone was out to get me': Palmer |date=23 May 2016 |author=AAP|work=Ninemsn |access-date=23 May 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160524103258/http://www.9news.com.au/national/2016/05/23/11/27/clive-palmer-rules-out-senate-seat-run |archive-date=24 May 2016 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all}} This all but assured that Fairfax would revert to the LNP; like most Sunshine Coast seats, it would have been a comfortably safe LNP seat in a traditional two-party matchup. O'Brien then reclaimed the seat for the LNP.

Palmer deregistered the party's state branches in September 2016, initially intending to keep it active at the federal level.{{cite web |url=http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/palmer-united-party-applies-for-queensland-deregistration-20160923-grmq7r.html |title=Palmer United Party applies for Queensland deregistration |first=Cameron |last=Atfield |date=23 September 2016 |access-date=24 September 2016 |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161005021855/http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/palmer-united-party-applies-for-queensland-deregistration-20160923-grmq7r.html |archive-date=5 October 2016 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }} However, in April 2017, he announced that the party would be wound up.{{cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-04-19/clive-palmer-disbands-palmer-united-party/8452760|title=Clive Palmer disbands Palmer United Party, with federal registration to be cancelled|last=Silva|first=Kristan|work=ABC News|date=19 April 2017|access-date=24 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170827171933/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-04-19/clive-palmer-disbands-palmer-united-party/8452760|archive-date=27 August 2017|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}

In February 2018, Palmer announced his intention to resurrect his party and return to federal politics.{{cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-02-23/clive-palmer-resurrects-party-for-next-federal-election/9477512 |title=Clive Palmer to bring back Palmer United Party for next federal election |work=ABC News |date=23 February 2018 |first1=David |last1=Chen |access-date=23 February 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180223042348/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-02-23/clive-palmer-resurrects-party-for-next-federal-election/9477512 |archive-date=23 February 2018 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all}} The party was revived in June under its original name, the United Australia Party. When using the name Palmer United, the party continued to brand itself as a revival of the original UAP, claiming the three leaders of the original UAP, Joseph Lyons, Robert Menzies and Billy Hughes as its former leaders.{{cite news |work=ABC News |first=Antony |last=Green |date=20 January 2016 |quote=So it became the Palmer United Party, though the party's website continued to use the name United Australia Party, and even claimed prime ministers Joe Lyons and Robert Menzies as former leaders. |title=Palmer United: The rise and demise of a vanity party |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-01-20/palmer-united-the-rise-and-demise-of-a-vanity-party/7098196 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241226032715/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-01-20/palmer-united-the-rise-and-demise-of-a-vanity-party/7098196 |access-date=9 April 2025 |archive-date=26 December 2024 |author-link=Antony Green}} The UAP continued to claim former leaders of the original party for their election campaigns in 2019 and 2022.{{cite news |work=SBS News |title=Relatives of former PMs demand Clive Palmer remove false links to Menzies and Lyons |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220407112109/https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/relatives-of-former-pms-demand-clive-palmer-remove-false-links-to-menzies-and-lyons/nzr5qykq8 |url-status=live |archive-date=7 April 2022 |url=https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/relatives-of-former-pms-demand-clive-palmer-remove-false-links-to-menzies-and-lyons/nzr5qykq8 |access-date=9 April 2025 |date=30 January 2019 |first=Nick |last=Baker}}{{cite news |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-02-22/fact-check-clive-palmer-former-prime-ministers-uap/100848832 |access-date=9 April 2025 |date=22 February 2022 |via=ABC News |author=RMIT ABC Fact Check |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250409120433/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-02-22/fact-check-clive-palmer-former-prime-ministers-uap/100848832 |archive-date=9 April 2025 |title=Clive Palmer and the United Australia Party claim three former prime ministers as their own. Is that correct?}} Former One Nation senator Brian Burston joined the United Australia Party in June 2018.{{Cite web|url=https://www.townsvillebulletin.com.au/news/townsville/palmer-announces-plan-to-run-in-herbert-for-federal-election/news-story/b13b5b4157a82ac5b8b8f5327b700468|title=Palmer announces plan to run in Herbert for federal election|last=Raggatt|first=Tony|date=11 July 2018|work=Townsville Bulletin|access-date=15 July 2018}}{{Cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-06-18/brian-burston-will-run-for-clive-palmers-party-next-election/9879984 |title=Burston joins new Palmer party minutes after saying he'd sit as an independent |date=18 June 2018 |first=Caitlyn |last=Gribbin |work=ABC News |access-date=15 July 2018 |language=en-AU |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180729112906/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-06-18/brian-burston-will-run-for-clive-palmers-party-next-election/9879984 |archive-date=29 July 2018 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all}}

In January 2019, Palmer released a mobile game named "Clive Palmer: Humble Meme Merchant" where players collect Tim Tams and avoid over Palmer's political foes.{{cite news |work=9news.com.au |first=Stuart |last=Marsh |access-date=30 May 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230118042302/https://www.9news.com.au/national/clive-palmer-humble-meme-merchant-united-australia-party-leader-launches-political-game-app/5e53c3e2-0a28-4a1e-8cc7-0196c9a2513d |url-status=live |archive-date=18 January 2023 |date=14 January 2019 |title=Clive Palmer launches political-themed gaming app |url=https://www.9news.com.au/national/clive-palmer-humble-meme-merchant-united-australia-party-leader-launches-political-game-app/5e53c3e2-0a28-4a1e-8cc7-0196c9a2513d}}

In April 2019, Palmer stated that he would stand for the Senate in Queensland in the 2019 Australian federal election. Palmer spent $60 million at the 2019 election, with most of the advertising consisting of attacks on the Australian Labor Party (ALP).{{cite news |last1=Atkins |first1=Dennis |title=Dennis Atkins: As Queensland votes, Clive Palmer may have told one too many whoppers |url=https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/state/qld/2020/10/31/dennis-atkins-clive-palmer/ |access-date=2020-11-01 |work=New Daily |date=2020-10-31}} He and his party did not win any seats in the election.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2019/sep/23/clive-palmer-60m-election-spend-shows-need-for-cap-advocates-say |title=Clive Palmer $60m election spend shows need for cap, advocates say |first=Paul |last=Karp |newspaper=The Guardian |date=23 September 2019}}

Ahead of the 2019 election, Palmer altered the lyrics of the Twisted Sister song "We're Not Gonna Take It" to "Australia ain't gonna cop it" in a national TV campaign for United Australia Party. Twisted Sister condemned the unauthorised use of the song.{{Cite web|last=Koslowski|first=Max|date=2019-01-02|title='We're not gonna take it': Twisted Sister accuses Clive Palmer of using famed anthem in political ads|url=https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/we-re-not-gonna-take-it-twisted-sister-accuses-clive-palmer-of-using-famed-anthem-in-political-ads-20190102-p50p8o.html|access-date=2019-01-10|website=The Sydney Morning Herald|language=en}} Palmer disputed Twisted Sister's claim that they held any copyright over the portion of the song used in the advertisements, as he composed the lyrics and the melody was derived from "O Come, All Ye Faithful".{{Cite web |date=January 8, 2019 |first=Tom |last=Williams |title=Clive Palmer Calls For Twisted Sister Singer Dee Snider's Australian Tour To Be Cancelled |url=https://musicfeeds.com.au/news/clive-palmer-twisted-sister-dee-snider-tour-cancelled/ |access-date=February 2, 2019 |website=Music Feeds}} In April 2021, Palmer was ordered by the Federal Court of Australia to pay $1.5 million dollars in damages for copyright infringement. Palmer was also ordered to pay legal costs and to remove all copies of the song and accompanying videos from the internet.{{Cite web|date=2021-04-30|title=Clive Palmer ordered to pay $1.5m after losing Twisted Sister copyright case|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-04-30/clive-palmer-loses-twisted-sister-copyright-case/100106262|url-status=live|access-date=2021-04-30|website=ABC News|language=en-AU|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210430002353/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-04-30/clive-palmer-loses-twisted-sister-copyright-case/100106262 |archive-date=30 April 2021 }}{{Cite web|last=Whitbourn|first=Michaela|date=2021-04-30|title=Clive Palmer to pay $1.5 million after losing Twisted Sister copyright fight|url=https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/clive-palmer-to-pay-1-5-million-after-losing-twisted-sister-copyright-fight-20210430-p57nq2.html|url-status=live|access-date=2021-04-30|website=Brisbane Times|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210430001840/https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/clive-palmer-to-pay-1-5-million-after-losing-twisted-sister-copyright-fight-20210430-p57nq2.html |archive-date=30 April 2021 }}

During the campaign for the 2020 Queensland state election, at which the United Australia Party endorsed 55 candidates, Palmer is estimated to have spent about $8 million in advertising. As in the 2019 federal election, the advertising mainly attacked the ALP, particularly alleging that Labor planned to impose a 20 per cent "death tax" to pay for its election promises, a claim that was dismissed by the ALP as a lie. No UAP candidates were elected.

In 2021, Palmer welcomed to his party Liberal Party defector Craig Kelly, an outspoken critic of scientific findings on climate change and on vaccines.{{Cite web|url=https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/politics/australian-politics/2021/10/22/clive-palmer-craig-kelly/amp/|title='Reluctant' Clive Palmer talks up UAP, Craig Kelly|date=22 October 2021 }} Like Kelly, Palmer has been frequently criticised for spreading misinformation about COVID-19 and in particular the effectiveness of vaccines.{{Cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/where-clive-palmer-was-wrong-with-his-covid-vaccine-claims-20211125-p59bzp.html|title=Australia COVID: Where Clive Palmer vaccine claims fall apart|date=25 November 2021 }}

In December 2021, Palmer was rated Australia's "least likeable politician" in a Resolve Political Monitor survey that showed that only 8% of surveyed Australians had a positive view of him.{{cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/palmer-hanson-joyce-lead-the-list-of-least-liked-politicians-20211208-p59fzk.html|title=Palmer, Hanson, Joyce lead the list of least liked politicians|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|first=David|last=Crowe|date=27 December 2021|access-date=28 December 2021}}

For the United Australia Party in the 2022 Australian federal election, Palmer spent $123.5 million, more than the expenditure of any other political party.{{cite web|url=https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/how-much-clive-palmer-spent-to-win-one-united-australia-party-seat-in-parliament/yfk694ie1|title=How much Clive Palmer spent to win one United Australia Party seat in parliament|website=SBS News|date=1 February 2023|access-date=23 March 2023}} Figures from Australian Electoral Commission. The UAP obtained 4.7% of the vote, winning no seats in the House of Representatives and one in the Senate.

The UAP was voluntarily deregistered as a party on 8 September 2022, although its lone senator, Ralph Babet (Victoria), continues to say that he represents it.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/sep/09/clive-palmers-united-australia-party-deregistered-but-lone-senator-says-he-still-represents-it|last=Butler|first=Josh|title=Clive Palmer's United Australia party deregistered but lone senator says he still represents it|work=The Guardian|date=9 September 2022|access-date=10 September 2022}}{{cite news|url=https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/where-are-you-seeing-that-deregistration-of-uap-catches-palmer-s-senator-by-surprise-20220909-p5bgth.html|last=Visentin|first=Lisa|title='Where are you seeing that?' Deregistration of UAP catches Palmer's senator by surprise|work=Sydney Morning Herald|date=9 September 2022|access-date=10 September 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://www.aec.gov.au/Parties_and_Representatives/Party_Registration/Deregistered_parties/files/voluntary-deregistration-web-notice-united-australia-party.pdf|title=United Australia Party Voluntary Deregistration|website=Australian Electoral Commission|date=8 September 2022|access-date=10 September 2022}}

In the last few weeks before the 2023 Australian Indigenous Voice referendum, Palmer was reported to have spent $2 million in advertisements for the No campaign.{{cite news|url=https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/clive-palmer-ads-question-what-comes-after-the-voice-20231004-p5e9px.html|last=Sakkal|first=Paul|title=Palmer's $2 million ad blitz taps into Voice payment fears without evidence|work=Sydney Morning Herald|date=5 October 2023|access-date=1 November 2023}}{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/sep/29/indigenous-voice-to-parliament-referendum-clive-palmer-no-campaign-ads-spending-south-australia-tasmania|last=Butler|first=Josh|title=Clive Palmer to launch million-dollar ad blitz for no vote in voice referendum|work=The Guardian|date=29 September 2023|access-date=1 November 2023}}

In February 2025, the High Court ruled that Palmer could not register the United Australia Party again for the next federal election.{{cite news |website=ABC News |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-02-12/act-clive-palmer-high-court-hearing/104908578 |url-status=live |archive-date=16 February 2025 |access-date=16 February 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250216042624/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-02-12/act-clive-palmer-high-court-hearing/104908578 |first=Patrick |last=Bell |date=12 February 2025 |title=Clive Palmer loses High Court fight to re-register United Australia Party before federal election}}

At a press conference on 19 February 2025, Palmer announced that he had joined Trumpet of Patriots, following the High Court ruling that he would be unable to register the United Australia Party (UAP) for the 2025 federal election after its voluntary de-registration in 2022.{{cite news |work=The Guardian |title=Australia news live: Fair Work Ombudsman begins legal action against Setka and CFMEU over alleged AFL coercion attempt |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2025/feb/19/australia-news-live-nsw-music-festival-pill-testing-trial-oscar-jenkins-russian-captivity-video-ntwnfb?filterKeyEvents=false&page=with%3Ablock-67b509f68f08cc1739de8f4a#block-67b509f68f08cc1739de8f4a |access-date=19 February 2025 |date=19 February 2025 |at=Palmer to launch new political mission with Trumpet of Patriots party |first1=Dan |last1=Jervis-Bardy |first2=Emily |last2=Wind |first3=Caitlin |last3=Cassidy}} Palmer has announced that the party's policies are to be modelled on those of Donald Trump and that he plans to spend $90m on its campaign in the federal election of 2025.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/feb/19/clive-palmer-trumpet-of-patriots-ntwnfb|last=Jervis-Bardy|first=Dan|title=Billed as news that could ‘break the Guardian’s website’, it turned out to be Clive Palmer’s best shot at Trump lite|work=The Guardian|date=19 February 2025|access-date=19 February 2025}}{{cite news|url=https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/palmer-targets-dutton-in-90-million-maga-style-election-pitch-20250219-p5ldaj.html|last=Sakkal|first=Paul|title=Palmer targets Dutton in $90 million MAGA-style election pitch|work=Sydney Morning Herald|date=20 February 2025|access-date=20 February 2025}}

Palmer spent approximately $60 million in the 2025 federal election on a nationwide advertising blitz, including over $6 million on YouTube and Meta platforms, and sending over 17 million unsolicited text messages, the party failed to secure any seats in Parliament, garnering only 1.85% of the national vote. Following this defeat, Palmer announced his retirement from politics, citing his age and a desire to focus on philanthropic efforts.{{Cite web |last=Hussey |first=Samuel |date=2025-05-04 |title=How billionaire Clive Palmer burned $60 million on a party that won nothing |url=https://www.forbes.com.au/news/leadership/clive-palmers-60-million-election-campaign-ends-in-failure/ |access-date=2025-05-13 |website=Forbes Australia |language=en-US}}

{{update section|date=July 2024}}

In March 2020, Palmer appeared in Brisbane Magistrates Court to answer four charges of fraud and other dishonesty, brought by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC). The charges alleged improper transfers of money totalling several million dollars shortly before the 2013 general election, as fraud and dishonest use of Palmer's position as a company director (of Mineralogy) regarding funding of the Palmer United Party. Palmer denied that the charges relate to the collapse of Queensland Nickel, commenting: "It's just a fabricated charge which will be dismissed pretty easily which is what we do with ASIC charges which are political in nature." The case was adjourned until 28 August, with Palmer still claiming that the charges were "nonsense". Each offence carries a potential prison sentence of up to five years and, for the fraud charges, up to 12 years.{{cite news|url=https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/clive-palmer-faces-fresh-criminal-charges-from-corporate-watchdog-20200228-p545ht.html|last=Dennien|first=Matt|title=Clive Palmer faces fresh criminal charges from corporate watchdog|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=28 February 2020|access-date=28 February 2020}}{{cite news|url=https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/clive-palmer-charged-with-fraud-director-breaches-20200717-p55d1j.html|last1=Danckert|first1=Sarah|last2=Dennien|first2=Matt|title=Clive Palmer charged with fraud, director breaches|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=17 July 2020|access-date=17 July 2020}}{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/jul/17/clive-palmer-charged-with-and-corporate-misconduct-offences|last=Butler|first=Ben|title=Clive Palmer charged with fraud and corporate misconduct offences|work=The Guardian|date=17 July 2020|access-date=17 July 2020}}

Palmer lives in a gated mansion on Sovereign Islands, an exclusive community on the Gold Coast. 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. 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 owns an undisclosed number of properties held in trust.{{cite news |url=http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/clive-palmers-daughter-mary-has-multimilliondollar-property-portfolio-in-trust/story-fnihsrf2-1226781083994 |title=Clive Palmer's daughter Mary has multimillion-dollar property portfolio in trust |last1=Tin |first1=Jason |last2=Walsh |first2=Liam |date=12 December 2013 |work=The Courier-Mail |location=Brisbane |access-date=24 January 2014}} He was reported to have spent more than {{AUD|20m}} during 2018–19 on luxury homes on the Gold Coast and in Brisbane and Perth.{{cite news|url=https://www.domain.com.au/news/clive-palmer-linked-company-drops-4-6-million-on-mansion-in-perths-applecross-886355/ |last=Calautti|first=Lisa|title=Clive Palmer-linked company drops $4.6 million on mansion in Perth's Applecross|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=29 September 2019|access-date=29 September 2019}} As of August 2020, he reportedly owns three adjoining houses in Fig Tree Pocket, costing $17.5m and on more than four hectares of land fronting the Brisbane River.{{cite news|url=https://www.domain.com.au/news/clive-palmer-quietly-buys-another-fig-tree-pocket-house-for-5-million-976427/?ref=pos1|last=Lutton|first=Ellen|title=Clive Palmer quietly buys another Fig Tree Pocket house for $5 million|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=10 August 2020|access-date=10 August 2020}}

Palmer was married to his first wife, Susan Palmer, for 22 years until she died from cancer in 2006. They had a son, Michael and a daughter, Emily.{{cite news |url=https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/shared-tragedy-led-to-romance-for-clive-palmer/news-story/50e86ba9267ecacf0dc14d03ddd54635 |title=Shared tragedy led to romance for Clive Palmer |date=6 May 2012 |work=The Courier-Mail |location=Brisbane |access-date=20 October 2021 |first=Daryl |last=Passmore |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120521094309/http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/shared-tragedy-led-to-romance-for-clive-palmer/story-e6freoof-1226347692100 |archive-date=21 May 2012 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }} In 2007, Palmer married Anna, and they have two daughters, Mary and Lucy.{{cite news |url=http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/clive-palmer-was-father-to-his-now-bride-20120507-1y7pn.html |title=Clive Palmer was 'father' to his now bride |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |author=AAP |date=7 May 2012 |access-date=26 April 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130925153623/http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/clive-palmer-was-father-to-his-now-bride-20120507-1y7pn.html |archive-date=25 September 2013 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}{{cite news |author=Walker, Jamie |url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/features/clive-palmer-having-it-all/story-e6frg6z6-1226449397329 |title=Clive Palmer: having it all |work=The Australian |date=18 August 2012 |access-date=26 April 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121014223809/http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/features/clive-palmer-having-it-all/story-e6frg6z6-1226449397329 |archive-date=14 October 2012 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }} Palmer is a Roman Catholic and was a prominent member of Right to Life Australia while at university, organising pro-life rallies on campus.{{cite news |url=http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/palmers-party-to-right-the-wrongs-right-20130426-2ije5.html |title=Palmer's party to right the wrongs. Right? |author=Remeikis, Amy |work=Brisbane Times |date=26 April 2013 |access-date=20 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131229143012/http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/palmers-party-to-right-the-wrongs-right-20130426-2ije5.html |archive-date=29 December 2013 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}{{cite web |url=https://www.australianbookreview.com.au/component/k2/105-abr-previews/1687-who-is-the-real-clive-palmer |title=Who is the real Clive Palmer? : Portrait of a mercurial, litigious political force |author=Terzis, Gillian |work=Australian Book Review |date=16 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131113143851/https://www.australianbookreview.com.au/component/k2/105-abr-previews/1687-who-is-the-real-clive-palmer |archive-date=13 November 2013 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}

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.{{Cite news |url=http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,20797,26195358-3102,00.html |title=Queensland's richest man Clive Palmer rushed to hospital |work=The Courier-Mail |location=Brisbane |date=11 October 2009 |access-date=5 November 2009 |first1=Marco |last1=Monteverde |first2=Anna |last2=Caldwell |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100215230253/http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,20797,26195358-3102,00.html |archive-date=15 February 2010 |url-status=unfit |df=dmy-all }} Palmer has also suffered from sleep apnoea.{{Cite news |url=http://www.couriermail.com.au/business/silent-killer-stalked-palmer/story-fn7kjcme-1226288301206 |title=Sleep apnoea silent killer stalked billionaire tycoon Clive Palmer |author=Passmore, Darryl |access-date=5 March 2012 |date=4 March 2012 |newspaper=The Sunday Mail |location=Queensland |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120326172954/http://www.couriermail.com.au/business/silent-killer-stalked-palmer/story-fn7kjcme-1226288301206 |archive-date=26 March 2012 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }} In February 2022 Palmer tested positive for COVID-19 and was diagnosed with pneumonia.{{Cite news |last=MCKENNA |first=MICHAEL |date=27 February 2022 |title=Clive Palmer has pneumonia, Covid-19 |work=The Australian |url=https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/clive-palmer-has-pneumonia-covid19/news-story/}}

On 28 February 2022 it was reported that Palmer had purchased Adolf Hitler's Mercedes-Benz 770, and a Rolls-Royce once owned by King Edward VIII, to become part of a collection for a planned vintage car museum in Queensland.{{Cite news |last=Ransley |first=Ellen |date=2022-02-27 |title=Clive Palmer buys Hitler's car from Russian |work=news.com.au |url=https://www.news.com.au/technology/motoring/clive-palmer-buys-adolf-hitlers-mercedes-king-edward-viiis-rolls-royce/news-story/8eb6be87865a4b1a8968270e8c0a6f02 |access-date=2022-03-01}}

In 2016, the BRW Rich 200 estimated Palmer's net worth at {{AUD}}600 million; by 2019 his net worth was assessed at {{AUD}}4.09 billion;{{Cite web|url=https://www.afr.com/rich-list|title=Topic {{!}} Rich List|website=Australian Financial Review|language=en|access-date=2019-09-11}}[https://www.aec.gov.au/Parties_and_Representatives/party_registration/Registered_parties/ AEC Party Register] and in 2025 it was assessed at {{AUD}}20.12 billion according to the Australian Financial Review 2025 Rich List.{{cite news |work=Australian Financial Review |access-date=30 May 2025 |title=Rich List |url=https://www.afr.com/rich-list |publisher=Nine Entertainment |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250530013904/https://www.afr.com/rich-list |archive-date=30 May 2025 |url-status=live}}

In 2019, YouTuber Friendlyjordies published a video satirising Palmer. Palmer began defamation action, but later withdrew it.{{Cite news|date=2019-09-25|title=Clive Palmer: Australia ex-MP threatens YouTuber over 'dense Humpty' video|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-49820738|access-date=2021-11-11}}

{{Portal|Biography|Australia|Queensland|Business and economics}}

• Mineralogy (mining company)
• Palmer Nickel and Cobalt Refinery
• Palmer United Party
• Queensland Nickel
• Titanic II
• United Australia Party

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category|Clive Palmer}}

• [https://www.fedcourt.gov.au/services/access-to-files-and-transcripts/online-files/palmer-v-mcgowan Clive Palmer v Mark McGowan] Federal Court of Australia online file
• [http://www.unitedaustraliaparty.org.au/ United Australia Party website]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20131230032020/http://palmerunited.com/2013/12/memo-of-understanding-between-australian-motoring-enthusiast-party-and-palmer-united-party/ Memo of understanding between the Palmer and Motoring parties]

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{{s-bef|before=Alex Somlyay}}

{{s-ttl|title=Member for Fairfax|years=2013–2016}}

{{s-aft|after=Ted O'Brien}}

{{s-end}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Palmer, Clive}}

Category:1954 births

Category:Australian billionaires

Category:Australian company founders

Category:Australian political party founders

Category:Australian Roman Catholics

Category:Australian soccer chairmen and investors

Category:Businesspeople from Melbourne

Category:Gold Coast United FC

Category:Liberal National Party of Queensland politicians

Category:Living people

Category:Members of the Australian House of Representatives

Category:Members of the Australian House of Representatives for Fairfax

Category:Mining company founders

Category:United Australia Party (2013) members of the Parliament of Australia

Category:People educated at Toowoomba Grammar School

Category:Politicians from Melbourne

Category:Australian mining businesspeople

Category:People from the Gold Coast, Queensland

Category:United Australia Party (2013) politicians

Category:People from Williamstown, Victoria

Category:Australian conspiracy theorists

Category:Australian MPs 2013–2016