By JOLENE OGLE
CONTROVERSIAL Federal Member for Fairfax, Clive Palmer, says there is “no question” as to whether he will run in the next election.
In a press conference with Canberra media on 24 March, Mr Palmer said he would run again, spurred on by the support of the local community and despite his media team denying Mr Palmer had made an announcement.
“There’s never any doubt that I’ll stand again for parliament, so there’s no question about it,” he said.
“What’s most important is the encouraging support I’ve had from the local community.”
However, Mr Palmer’s media contact said he hadn’t made an announcement “in relation to the next election”.
In the same media conference, Mr Palmer said he had saved jobs when he bought out the Hyatt resort, despite sacking about 40 people last week and a reported 600 people since he bought the resort.
“(The resort) was going to close five years ago and those people would have lost their jobs,” he said. “So, we saved all those jobs. That’s the real story.”
Mr Palmer’s comments come after the resort was abruptly closed for renovations, with 40 staff losing their jobs without notice.
In a media statement, resort general manager Simon Stodart said the renovation works would start as early as this month, with the accommodation and conference facilities closed throughout the work.
The statement said the renovations would firmly establish Palmer Coolum Resort as “one of Australia’s leading resorts” and provide the Sunshine Coast with a major boost in tourism.
Mr Palmer said the resort was going to be “bigger” and “better” following the planned renovations.
