Palmer-Katter merger?

[Hank Scorpion]

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-03-21/katter-palmer-parties-to-merge-as-third-force-in-qld/5336530

Palmer United Party, Katter's Australian Party plan merge as 'third force' in Queensland

The three Queensland MPs in Katter's Australian Party are set to merge with the two Palmer United Party members to create a new "third force".

Katter's Australian Party picked up 11.53% at the last Queensland state election, much of it outside of Brisbane where it was common to see KAP jump ahead of Labor. Palmer has on many occasions voiced his disapproval with Campbell Newman, and is presumably planning a massive campaign against him at the next state election.

Would a united, well-known union between Katter and Palmer, with significant resources behind it be able to capitalise on the discontent surrounding both major parties?

 

[John]

I come from a creed, I was a farmer, where your handshake is your handshake.

 

[Getz]

I come from a creed, I was a farmer, where your handshake is your handshake.

Can you teach me? Mine turns into a handstand...

 

[samFFC]

Could certainly capitalise in the short-term, but would likely only be in QLD.

Longer-term, and nationally, sure there would be far too many differences between the parties to lead to a successful relationship? In particular, economic policy would be vastly different.

But working together on areas of common interest could have benefits to see KAP take from Nats and PUP from Libs, and pick up seats through preference deals.

 

[Hank Scorpion]

Could certainly offer a challenge to Newman next year. I'd imagine that Palmer would want the merged party to direct preferences to Labor at state level, which could see the LNP's huge majority greatly reduced.

Palmer isn't the sort of person who I imagine being able to work cooperatively with others, so as samFFC outlined, emergent policy differences could trouble the party.

Seems mutually beneficial in the short-term though.

 

[samFFC]

Could certainly offer a challenge to Newman next year. I'd imagine that Palmer would want the merged party to direct preferences to Labor at state level, which could see the LNP's huge majority greatly reduced.

Palmer isn't the sort of person who I imagine being able to work cooperatively with others, so as samFFC outlined, emergent policy differences could trouble the party.

Seems mutually beneficial in the short-term though.

For sure - and good point re directing to Lab over Lib. Again long term this would become a problem, but in short-term could pay off quite a lot. Strategically, would be preferencing on a case-by-case basis, supporting the Libs that are:
a. very popular
b. closely in line with PUP policy

and then preferencing Lab over Libs in other places, particularly with those Labor members that share similar philosophies.

 

[Gough]

It'll need to be a bloody big party room to contain those two egos.

 

[noddy]

Apparently Katter has denied this joining of the two parties.

 

[Hank Scorpion]

Have read that since the thread was created.

He could just be displaying reluctance to coax as much out of Palmer as possible.

 

[The Speaker]

Hmm. This has been talked about before, and it may work, but it's hard to tell.

At the very least Palmer may get his United Australia Party after all.

Katter has been happy to preference the ALP too.

The danger in the long-term would be the same as that of the LNP - the urban party pushing out the rural party.

 

[Inferno]

Two egos, one party. Can work in the short term but I'd expect it to go belly up if not at or before the election then not long after it.

 

[The Speaker]

Two egos, one party. Can work in the short term but I'd expect it to go belly up if not at or before the election then not long after it.

Well it depends on what Palmer wants with his party. I can't see him being in for the long haul, in which case it wouldn't be too much of an issue. If he's willing to help create a party with a genuine platform that he can then leave to its own devices, it may be worth it.

 

[AM]

Maybe they could call it the NNP - Nuff Nuff Party.

 

[Andre]

It'll need to be a bloody big party room to contain those two egos.

Don't see the point. Now putting each other on all tickets as 2nd preference and for upper houses / Senate having the other as first choice would be quite doable.

Anyway Katter has clearly stated in the past that there's no such antics in his electorate.

Katter : “Sorry Mr. Palmer, but I don't go in for these backdoor shenanigans. Sure I'm flattered, maybe even a little curious, but the answer is no!”

 

[Pie eyed]

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-03-21/katter-palmer-parties-to-merge-as-third-force-in-qld/5336530



Katter's Australian Party picked up 11.53% at the last Queensland state election, much of it outside of Brisbane where it was common to see KAP jump ahead of Labor. Palmer has on many occasions voiced his disapproval with Campbell Newman, and is presumably planning a massive campaign against him at the next state election.

Would a united, well-known union between Katter and Palmer, with significant resources behind it be able to capitalise on the discontent surrounding both major parties?

Another discovery of science?
The Extremely Weak Idiotic Force, where two large mentally inanimate bodies attract each other.
In rare circumstances a critical mass can be reached at which time the newly formed body has been known to silently implode causing a slight breeze and feint sulfurous odor.
In even rarer occasions you are left with what resembles a giant cane toad in a white american cowboy hat which stops babbling.