Palmer's party facing loss of more members

In a difficult week for Clive Palmer's leadership, the PUP's two remaining NT members are planning to leave, calling the party's chaos a national disgrace.

Palmer loses more party members

Clive Palmer finishes speaking at the Palmer United Party Victorian election campaign on Sunday, Nov. 16, 2014.

The two Palmer United Party members in the Northern Territory are allegedly planning to leave the party, saying it's "absolute chaos" and internal divisions have been an embarrassment.

Alison Anderson and Larisa Lee left the Country Liberals government and joined the PUP in April with fellow Aboriginal backbencher Francis Xavier Kurrupuwu, who broke their bloc to rejoin the CLP in September.

The women said the PUP had failed to connect with its NT members and had not responded to their inquiries for help for Aboriginal people, The Australian reported on Saturday.
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They said the party had failed to use its balance of power in the Senate effectively.

"We just wanted a partner, someone that would support us with (fighting for) Aboriginal rights in the federal parliament, Ms Lee said.

"In the PUP we didn't find that; there was too much controversy in there."
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The pair also criticised Mr Palmer's ongoing drama with Chinese firm Citic and Senator Jacquie Lambie's attacks on Muslims.

This is Ms Anderson's third departure from a political party in nine years.

In 2005 she was elected for the seat of Namatjira in Central Australia with the Labor Party, but left in 2009, citing a failure to deliver for Aboriginal people.

After sitting as an independent, she was wooed by the CLP and joined before it won resoundingly in predominantly indigenous bush electorates at the 2012 NT election thanks to support for her, Ms Lee in the seat of Arnhem and Mr Kurrupuwu in the seat of Arafura.

But earlier this year the three said they were disillusioned with the government's failure to fulfil election promises to indigenous communities.

Ms Anderson and Ms Lee could not be contacted for comment.


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Published 29 November 2014 11:43am
Updated 29 November 2014 1:48pm


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