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Podcast interview with Leighton Smith
Dr Michael de Percy is the Canberra Press Gallery Correspondent for The Spectator Australia.
Simon says Teals keen for costly minority government
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| Simon Holmes a Court at the National Press Club, 12 March 2025 |
From the National Press Club: The disdain for conservatives was palpable in Simon Holmes à Court’s address at the National Press Club in Canberra on March 12. It is interesting that the son of Robert Holmes à Court, Australia’s first billionaire (known as the ‘Great Acquirer’), appears less aggressive in business than he is politics.
Holmes à Court sees the Liberal Party as a great, big ‘carbon bomb’ that will go off if the Coalition are able to form a majority government later this year.
The Teals and the Greens have, in my opinion, the potential to fracture the left much like the conservative parties are fracturing the right. Naturally, both sides of the minor parties are arguing that a minority government is better than the alternative of a Labor or Coalition majority government. Holmes à Court referred to those people who intend to vote outside the two major parties as ‘double haters’ who are likely to bring about a minority government.
Writing in the Unfiltered newsletter, Alexandra Marshall had this to say:
Michael de Percy has been down in Canberra keeping an eye on Simon Holmes à Court at the National Press Club. The billionaire green energy enthusiast wasted no time in calling the Coalition the ‘greatest threat to climate action’ and then, bizarrely, took aim at their nuclear plan. Here is what he said…
My latest in The Spectator Australia, Simon says Teals keen for costly minority government.
Dr Michael de Percy is the Canberra Press Gallery Correspondent for The Spectator Australia.
Trumpet of Patriots announces a Liberal election platform
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| Clive Palmer addressing the National Press Club of Australia, 13 March 2025 |
From the National Press Club: Clive Palmer’s address on March 13 delivered the first tranche of the Trumpet of Patriot’s election platform. While one regional newspaper took issue with humans being either male or female, conservative voters will find little to disagree with in what is otherwise a common-sense policy platform.
Writing in the Unfiltered newsletter, Alexandra Marshall had this to say:
Michael de Percy endured the National Press Club of Australia for a good cause. He was able to put a question to Clive Palmer on the topic of the upcoming Federal Election. Palmer was his usual bombastic self, wasting no time telling the room exactly what he thinks of the politicians in Canberra.
Writing in the Morning Double Shot newsletter, Terry Barnes had this to say:
Our Michael de Percy and Clive Palmer are on a unity ticket on one thing; they both lump the Liberal and Labor parties together as the Uniparty. Having heard and questioned Palmer at the National Press Club last week, de Percy came away feeling that Palmer’s platform is far more Menzian than the Liberals’. He worries about the conservative vote being fractured between the Coalition, Palmer and various others, and he’s right. The only way to be sure of beating Labor and its further Left allies is to not to waste primary votes in ‘protest’ at the Liberals’ flabbiness, and use them to ensure that Labor is voted out in May, and not 2028. If that means swallowing hard and voting Liberal or National, don’t rule it out if you’re unhappy with them.
My latest in The Spectator Australia, Trumpet of Patriots announces a Liberal election platform.
"Many conservatives appear to be voting with their feet by moving to the conservative minor parties," says @FlaneurPolitiq
— The Spectator Australia (@SpectatorOz) March 13, 2025
My biggest concern with the fracturing of the conservative vote is that it will return Labor to power.
I asked Mr Palmer how Trumpet of Patriots would… pic.twitter.com/Bt1cHoBG5h
Dr Michael de Percy is the Canberra Press Gallery Correspondent for The Spectator Australia.
