Wild Duck, lame duck, banana split: Opposition Leader Bill Shorten speaks about the meal shared between Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Clive Palmer.
Clive Palmer and Malcolm Turnbull leave the Wild Duck Chinese restaurant in Canberra as Treasury Secretary Martin Parkinson holds back in the shadows. Source: News Corp Australia
THERE won't be a repeat of Canberra's most controversial dinner date as Malcolm Turnbull has pulled out of a charity fundraiser reunion with Clive Palmer.
It's a protest against Mr Palmer's attack on Peta Credlin, Prime Minister Tony Abbott's chief of staff.
And it's a further sign Clive Palmer and the Government are headed for a bitter showdown over the Budget in the Senate.
Valdman cartoon showing Clive Palmer, Malcolm Turnbull and Martin Parkinson at a Canberra Restaurant making a meal of the Budget. Source: Supplied
The return to the Wild Duck had been the idea of Mr Turnbull, the Communications Minster, who last week sent Mr Palmer a text invitation to dine with him, two businessmen, and Treasury secretary Martin Parkinson.
The controversial party was explained by Mr Turnbull as part of a charm offensive to build up a relationship with the outspoken Queenslander.
Mr Turnbull offered seats at a re-creation of the meal for an auction in conjunction with the June 18 Press Gallery Mid-Winter Ball, money raised to go to charity. They were to be joined by Foreign Minister Julie Bishop.
But tonight Mr Turnbull and Ms Bishop dumped the plan.
They cancelled because of Mr Palmer's "offensive and inappropriate" comments about Ms Credlin.
He had claimed the Prime Minster was persisting with his expansive paid parental leave scheme so Ms Credlin would "receive a massive benefit when she gets pregnant".
Peta Credlin, chief of staff to PM Tony Abbott. Source: News Corp Australia
The remark was factually incorrect as Ms Credlin already has access to a similar PPL. It was also condemned as sexist. Mr Palmer said today he would not apologise.
Foreign Minister Bishop was prominent in taking on Mr Palmer for what she called "particularly hurtful" personal attacks.
"I hope Mr Palmer reflects on what he says. Of course he can debate policy, but he shouldn't debate staff members in doing so," said the Foreign Minister.
This made sure there will be no chummy dinner party with Mr Palmer and the proposal was sunk tonight.
The soured relations also make it difficult to see the Government giving the extra staff Mr Palmer asked for in a letter to Tony Abbott today.
Question Time in the House of Representatives in Parliament House in Canberra. Clive Palmer leaves the chamber. Picture: Gary Ramage Source: News Corp Australia
Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang
Palmer no Turnbull dinner date
Dengan url
http://duniasikasik.blogspot.com/2014/06/palmer-no-turnbull-dinner-date.html
Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya
Palmer no Turnbull dinner date
namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link
Palmer no Turnbull dinner date
sebagai sumbernya
0 komentar:
Posting Komentar