BOWEN JOINS TEAM CLIVE
Cowboys legend stars in video supporting QNI
COWBOYS legend Matt Bowen has thrown his support behind Clive Palmer’s push to reopen the Yabulu nickel refinery.
Bowen ( pictured) appears in an online video on be- half of Mr Palmer’s Yabulu refinery joint venture owner QNI Resources, calling on people to “stand up for Townsville”.
Mr Palmer said there had been no discussions with Bowen about him potentially standing as a political candidate for his United Australia Party.
Mr Palmer said Bowen was not a member of the party. UAP North Queensland secretary Jen Sackley said they were excited Bowen had come on board to help get the refinery operating again to rebuild the North Queensland economy.
RUGBY league legend Matt Bowen is backing Clive Palmer.
The Cowboys life member and all- time record try scorer appears in a video, on behalf of Mr Palmer’s Yabulu refinery joint venture owner QNI Resources, calling on people to “stand up for Townsville”.
It follows announcements of further sponsorships by Mr Palmer, including a $ 14,000 “donation” to Townsville sprint sensation Jake Doran, who is also being offered travel on Mr Palmer’s private jet.
In the video, Bowen says it’s time to make a difference and asks the viewer whether they are sick and tired of being unable to “influence things”.
“You can. When one person stands up they can send a ripple of hope across the world,” he says.
“When we all stand up together we all make our lives better. “Stand up for Townsville.” Doran, 18, the Australian under20 100m record holder, said there were no requirements or strings attached to Mr Palmer’s donation.
“However, I can support Clive publicly and ( showing) that he’s doing good things for the Townsville community is what I can give back,” Doran said.
Mr Palmer, whose nickel refinery collapsed in 2016 with $ 300 million in liabilities which still remain unpaid, has been on a charm offensive with donations of $ 75,000 to Townsville Gymnastics and $ 10,000 to Townsville Tiger Sharks Swimming Club. Yesterday, he appeared in front of the athletics track at Townsville Sports Reserve to announce the Doran donation.
Mr Palmer is himself a former sprinter, having competed at the NQ Games in 1970, and said he still held a 400m schoolboys record on the Gold Coast after 45 years.
“We want to help Jake win the next gold medal for Australia in sprinting,” Mr Palmer said. “It’s a message for all you people at home that Townsville can do it; that we can, as a community, achieve great success.”
The State Government is resisting overtures from Mr Palmer to intervene by clearing the way for access to an export berth at Townsville Port for the refinery. While the port wants him to negotiate with berth leaseholder Glencore and lodge a detailed proposal, Mr Palmer said striking new leases could take months.
“Our situation is very simple. We want our leases restored at the port on exactly the same terms they were for 40 years,” Mr Palmer said.
“We are not going to be caught up in a long negotiation for nine months because we want to employ people now.”
On news he has just bought a Mermaid Beach mansion for $ 12 million, Mr Palmer said he bought property all over Australia and was looking to move into a Townsville unit “as soon as possible”.
“I’ve bought a unit here at The Strand,” he said. “I’m on the electoral roll at Herbert. ( The unit) is being busily renovated.
“I’m up here all the time working as hard as I can to get the refinery open.”