Clive gets bold and sells the product

CLIVE Palmer is ramping up a media and advertising blitz to win support for his political and commercial interests in Australia with Townsville the epicentre.

Media sources suggest t the controversial businessm man has committed hundreds of thousands of dollars to a multimedia campaign including outdoor billboards, radio and t television advertising and social media across several platforms including Facebook, Twitter and Youtube.

The Townsville radio market is believed to be benefiting from at least a $ 50,000 spend.

Townsville marketing consultant Michael Kopittke said Mr Palmer was doing a “pretty good marketing job”.

“We have seen the billboard advertising and now we have his radio campaign. He’s clearly trying to rebuild his support base in Townsville,” Mr Kopittke said.

“Whether people accept it or not, he is giving it a good crack. People power can normally draw a response from government.”

Mr Palmer has re- entered the political fray, forming the United Australia Party and announcing his intention to run as a candidate for the Townsville seat of Herbert.

His radio ads appeal for support to reopen his Yabulu nickel refinery and get access to the refinery’s former berth controlled by Glencore but Glencore says they haven’t been approached, while Mr Palmer has also called on the State Government to use its power of resumption for him to get access.

Meanwhile, legal action on multiple fronts, centred on the port, is under way.

Mr Palmer told the Bulletin last week that he was going to “mobilise the entire Townsville community to demand the refinery is reopened”.

Yesterday, a spokesman for Mr Palmer said no advertising budget had been determined but that “bringing the refinery back on line and granting it access to the port” was the important issue.

Townsville lawyer Evan Sarinas is one who suggests the “community should welcome him” but development authority Townsville Enterprise is more cautious.

“The nickel refinery has the potential to provide real jobs for the community, however, we understand there are a number of commercial and regulatory matters that need to be resolved first,” Townsville Enterprise chairman Kevin Gill said.