Clive Palmer is almost 70 and has more cash than he’ll have the ability to spend in his lifetime. So why not fund a $1 billion cruise ship challenge, recreating the doomed ocean liner Titanic and permitting it to lastly full its famed maiden voyage from Southampton to New York?
“It’s much more enjoyable to do the Titanic than it’s to sit down at residence and depend my cash,” Palmer instructed reporters on Wednesday at a re-launch of his chronically delayed ship enterprise.
Palmer received a reasonably sizable press gaggle collectively: some 15 reporters confirmed up on the Sydney Opera Home’s Yallamundi Rooms, together with workers from Information Corp and Guardian Australia. The microphones on the lectern revealed ABC Information, 9 Information, Channel 10 and Channel 7 have been additionally there.
Palmer, who was in a chatty temper, answered questions for almost an hour, and claimed, amongst different issues:
- His web price is “inside 10% to fifteen%” of the $23.66 billion estimated by the Australian Monetary Overview’s wealthy checklist — “However we actually have the potential to do significantly better.”
- The Titanic II challenge will likely be put up for tender in Europe earlier than the tip of the yr, with a shipyard in Finland among the many events.
- The cruise liner will value “within the order of half a billion to 600 million, however I’m positive the shipyards will need to cost me a billion for it”.
- Passengers would expertise environments impressed by the unique 1912 idea, with Turkish baths, smoking rooms, and opulent eating halls, all within the acquainted ritzy type impressed by the Palace of Versailles and luxurious turn-of-the-last-century inns.
The challenge has been within the works since 2013, however this time Palmer says he’s critical about finishing it. The billionaire blamed earlier delays on the coronavirus pandemic.
In Palmer’s view, Titanic II will likely be an antidote to the “conflict and hate … and hassle within the Center East, Ukraine and Taiwan”.
“Individuals are focusing very negatively on what forces are controlling our world, whereas the Titanic reminds us of vital facets equivalent to, all folks aspire to like and friendship,” he mentioned. “The love story of Rose and Jack and Titanic is one which touches the hearts of all people.”
Palmer was additionally requested about his behavior of constructing very costly political donations and mentioned he had no regrets, regardless of his pitiful outcomes on the poll field final federal election.
“We spent about $100 million in that marketing campaign, in complete, and over 5 million Australians didn’t get the [COVID-19] vaccination — I feel most Australians would say that was cash effectively spent. You don’t stand for politics to win seats, you stand to tell the neighborhood,” Palmer responded.
(Division of Well being and Aged Care information from this month reveals 22.2 million folks in Australia aged over 5 have had a COVID-19 vaccine shot. There are a complete of about 26.6 million folks in Australia).
Palmer mentioned he had no present plans to spend cash within the subsequent election, or to hunt to make use of his cash to affect both of the key events: “I’ve been centered on the Titanic,” he mentioned.
One other pet challenge the wealthy lister hopes to pursue is beginning his personal social media community, named “Ausface”.
Final month, Palmer’s firm Mineralogy confronted off with attorneys for Fb proprietor Meta, who sought to oppose Palmer’s registration of the Ausface trademark in a case introduced earlier than the Australian Commerce Marks Workplace. The choice-maker within the case, a delegate for the workplace’s registrar, sided with Palmer, court docket information reviewed by Crikey present.
“We’re pondering of doing like an Australian Fb, for Australia,” Palmer mentioned.
When Crikey caught up with Palmer after the press convention, as he was strolling down the Opera Home’s northern boardwalk to shoot pickup photographs for the nightly information, he expanded on the Ausface thought.
“It’s much like what you’ve received on Fb, however about Australian issues, for Australians. It received’t be censored, whether or not it’s left or proper or no matter — everybody can put what they need on there,” Palmer instructed Crikey.
Crikey: Do you suppose there will likely be largely older folks on there, or will younger folks have an interest too?
Palmer: Effectively there are younger folks in Australia, you’ve received to keep in mind that.
Crikey: They’re a tough group to impress with social media networks although.
Palmer: Effectively, on my Fb I’ve 200,000 followers, and most of them are beneath 30. They like my submit once I mentioned I like a hamburger, I like a lettuce, I really like vinegar chips — they will relate to that. I nonetheless do love vinegar chips.