CIA Threat to US: PalmerSMH 20/3/2012 – Melissa CaliigerosMining...

CIA Threat to US: Palmer

SMH 20/3/2012 – Melissa Caliigeros

Mining magnate Clive Palmer has accused the Australian Greens and Queensland environmental campaigners of "treason" in conspiring with US powers to destroy the nation's coal industry.

Mr Palmer was expected to give his response to the passing of the Gillard government's mining tax at a media conference called this afternoon, but the multi-billionaire was concerned only with perceived collusion between the United States' Central Intelligence Agency and the environmental lobby.

Mr Palmer turned his attention to a report by Greenpeace and other anti-coal groups, titled Stopping the Australian Coal Export Boom, which outlined an environmental campaign designed to disrupt and delay the expansion of the industry.

While brandishing a copy of the report this afternoon, Mr Palmer said it was the result of a CIA conspiracy involving the US-based Rockefeller Foundation.
"This is funded by the CIA," he said.

"You only have to go back and read ... the reports to the US Congress that sets up the Rockefeller Foundation as a conduit of CIA funding.

"You only have to look at the secret budget which was passed by Congress last year - bigger than our whole national economy - with the CIA to ensure that.
"You only have to read the reports to US Congress where the CIA reported to the president that their role was to ensure the US competitive advantage - that's how you know it's funded by the CIA."

Mr Palmer argued descendants of US oil magnate John Rockefeller had bankrolled the report, in a bid to disrupt and damage the Australian coal industry.
He went on to say that the document confirmed local environmental campaigners, including Lock the Gate Alliance president Drew Hutton and Greens leader Bob Brown, were improperly collaborating with foreign multinationals.

"The Greens have not been providing you with the full information about where their money comes from or what it's about," he said.

"I think the Greens [candidates] in this upcoming state election ... should resign if they're being funded by an offshore political power.

"It's paramount to treason and something needs to be done about it."

Mr Palmer made little mention of mining tax legislation, passed last night in the Senate, saying he had no concern with it.

"I don't care about any tax. It won't affect my life one way or the other," he said.
Mr Palmer said the controversial tax, which aims to distribute the spoils of Australia's mining boom, would have no affect on his businesses.
"It probably won't cost me anything, because I'm not mining anything that comes under the classification of it. So, you know, it's not something that's worried me," he said.
Mr Palmer said he would not join Australia's third largest iron ore miner, Fortescue Metals, owned by Andrew "Twiggy" Forrest, in mounting a legal challenge.
"Certainly Andrew Forrest has indicated he'll do that - he has major concerns with it, because it affects him, affects his business and affects the ability of his workers," Mr Palmer said.