Australian Motoring Enthusiasts Party (AMEP) senator-elect Ricky Muir will form an alliance with the Palmer United Party (PUP) in the Senate, giving the five-month-old automotive-focused party and mining billionaire Clive Palmer more power in the Federal Parliament.
Muir (pictured top) confirmed his intention to join forces with the three PUP senators in the Upper House and form a voting alliance with the trio from July 2014.
“Voting as a united team and working together with the Palmer United Party means we will have a stronger voice in the Senate,” Muir said.
“This means I can serve my constituents more effectively.
“With three extra senators working together, I will be able to achieve more than I would have on my own for the people of Victoria and Australia.”
Muir said he would support the policies of Palmer’s party and in turn PUP would back AMEP’s motoring policies.
“The Palmer United Party Senators are happy to support our motoring policies, allowing us to maximise our influence with motoring legislation.”
Palmer (pictured above) said the deal meant the government’s leader in the Senate, Eric Abetz, would have no choice but to negotiate with the four senators as a single voting bloc.
“If Eric says he wants to negotiate individually with people, well, he’ll have to negotiate with our team or he won’t be negotiating at all,” Palmer told reporters at a press conference in Sydney this morning.
“It’ll be a very, very, very, very cold winter. But we hope we can bring that into a nice prosperous summer for the government and the people of Australia.”
The deal has been condemned by the former leadership of AMEP’s Victorian arm, which was sacked earlier this week by the party’s founder.
In an email to members obtained by the Australian Financial Review, the disgruntled executive promised to call a meeting next week to address the deal with PUP, which had reportedly not been canvassed with members.
“No consultation with the members? Yet again? The pattern is becoming obvious now, I think you will agree,” the email reads.
“We believe that as financial members you deserve an explanation as to what has occurred. The power lies within the membership not with individuals.”
Formed in May, AMEP says it aims to act as the political voice for a wide range of motoring enthusiasts, including owners of modified, classic and 4WD vehicles, and hopes to impact policy relating to road safety and driver education.