Sarah Ferguson presents Australia's premier daily current affairs program, delivering agenda-setting public affairs journalism and interviews that hold the powerful to account. Plus political analysis from Laura Tingle.
SARAH FERGUSON: Founder of the United Australia Party Clive Palmer spent more than $120 million on the last federal election. He joins me now.CLIVE PALMER, UNITED AUSTRALIA PARTY: Thanks very much for having me on.
We want as many ideas as we can out there at election time. We don't just want it controlled by the uni-party, the Labor Party or the Liberal Party who have got huge amounts of government funding. We don't want large amounts of funds being given to prescribe forever just to these two parties and having two choices. All citizens should have the right to voice their ideas.
So, some smaller parties and some individuals can't get their ideas out and some of them could be exactly what the country needs. Why should we stop people having more choices? SARAH FERGUSON: Let me just stay away from the vaccines for the moment because this is complicated enough issue by itself. What do you think the average Australian would think of the about the idea that a very rich man could buy himself or someone a seat in parliament if he is willing to spend enough money?
SARAH FERGUSON: Let me halt you there, Clive, because what he said, I won't use the word he used because they are truly disgusting racist and homophobic slurs that were censured today. But he says, "In my house we say X, we say Y and we say Z. We are sick of you woke at clowns." Does that sound like someone who is making a reference to historical racism?
It wasn't a reference only to internal discussions in his home. He was supporting the use of racist homophobic language. I just want to ask whether you still stand by Senator Babet in light of the use of language? SARAH FERGUSON: Yes, let's return to that. Just explain why an egalitarian country like ours should accept the fundamental notion that politics could be reduced to a game of who has the most money?
When I was in parliament, they wouldn't put my on the election expenditure committee. All of our party people have never been on it. None of the independents are on it but just Liberal and Labor stitching up the whole game for themselves. That's what it is about - it is a big fix. SARAH FERGUSON: I just want to ask you a question about Donald Trump because I observed that you made a number of claims recently about there being voter fraud at the last election in Australia. Your recent claims sound very similar to Donald Trump's. Was he your inspiration for making those assertions?
CLIVE PALMER: Yes, we took it, I wasn't personally involved. I saw it because it was sent to our head office, but there were complaints made and the complaints were made unless you are sure it is enough ballots to alter the course of the election, the matter is not admissible in court. That's how our election laws work.
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