Clive Palmer, Australian mining billionaire, hopeful Prime Minister, Titanic II maverick, dinosaur aficionado, has once again proved that those with literally too much money have a tendency to completely abandon their compass of responsible-spending decisions.
While Palmer’s past few months have seen him attempting to crack Australian politics with his Palmer United Party, Palmer has shifted his priorities and registered a trademark, The Australian Times. The application suggests Palmer intends on producing a newspaper, which may include print and electronic editions as well as apps for mobile devices.
Palmer’s newspaper, if it eventuates, may be seen as a snarky move of spiteful revenge against Rupert Murdoch—owner of News Ltd (now News Corp), and employer of two journalists Palmer is suing for defamation.
Gina Rinehart, human meme and Australia’s richest person, recently bought a significant share in Fairfax Media. If The Australian Times lasts longer than the dreamy sketches of Titanic II and actually leaves the head of Palmer for fruition, Australian media will be effectively dominated by two vile mining personalities. Happy days.
Politicians in Australia have been fairly tactless in their attitudes to the cashed up dude missing a brain, with Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard straight up dismissing his credibility, labeling his foray in to politics as a stunt; Joe hockey admirably described Palmer in the least offensive, albeit somewhat patronising, way possible: “He is out there in his own orbit and he is entitled to that place.”
If you’re unfamiliar with the antics of Clive Palmer let Shaun Micallef give you a run down:
Via SMH
