Clive Palmer says sorry for Tony Abbott 'commit suicide' comment
Clive Palmer has apologised for using the words "commit suicide" in relation to Prime Minister Tony Abbott and the unpopularity of the Government's higher education changes.
The Palmer United Party (PUP) leader held a press conference at Parliament House and was explaining PUP's continued opposition to the plan to cut university funding and allow institutions to charge more for their courses.
"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."
When asked by reporters if his comment was responsible, Mr Palmer responded that it was "political suicide".
"I raise it because 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.
Referring to tomorrow's release of the Intergenerational report, Mr Palmer said the Government was painting an overly negative outlook for Australia's economy and education sector.
Mr Palmer said Austrade's 2015 benchmark report showed that speaking internationally, the Government was far more positive about Australia's future.
Treasurer Joe Hockey has previously said that people will "fall off their chairs" when they see the report, which projects Australia's finances for the next 50 years.
Mr Palmer said Austrade's 2015 benchmark report showed that the Government was far more positive about Australia's future when speaking to overseas audiences.
"Australia is number one in the world for the rate of growth in our GDP and we're the only country that has had no years of recession in that time," Mr Palmer said, referring to real GDP growth amongst developed countries since 1991.
"We're the world champions, and that is what is not being told to the Australian people.
"What they've been telling the media and everyone is just a lie, it is not what they say overseas.
"The biggest lie is tertiary education, where Australia ranks number one, number one in the world for people going to university," Mr Palmer said.
