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Palmer tells PM to 'commit suicide'

Palmer United Party leader Clive Palmer has urged Prime Minister Tony Abbott to commit suicide over higher education policy. Photo: AAP

Clive Palmer has publicly urged the prime minister to commit suicide.

The crossbench MP was discussing Tony Abbott's comments in two media interviews that Mr Palmer was stopping his senators voting in favour of the government's higher education overhaul.

"We all agree we are going to vote against the retrospective education [bill]," Mr Palmer said.

"There's a million students going to tertiary education in this country. There's a million more that's about to go, and a million more that's just left. They've all got parents.

"So commit suicide Tony Abbott, you know," Mr Palmer told reporters in Canberra with a chuckle.

Challenged as to why he had thought that was a respectable point to make, Mr Palmer said it was not a debate.

"It's suicide, political suicide to go against the will of what's good for the Australian people," he said.

But he later tweeted that he had "inadvertently" used the word suicide "when I meant political suicide".

"I apologise for any offence caused," he said.

But the comments attracted criticism on social media from people appalled that Mr Palmer was being flippant about a serious issue.

Mr Palmer has made light of mental health issues in public comments before, including referring to former Queensland premier Campbell Newman as "a nice little fellow with a bipolar condition (who) sometimes doesn't take his medication".

* Readers seeking support and information about suicide prevention can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or the Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467.

News break – March 4