Cabinet ministers, it seems, are indulging Clive Palmer's liking for Asian food.
First it was Malcolm Turnbull at the Wild Duck in Canberra. On Wednesday night, it was Education Minister Christopher Pyne and Finance Minister Mathias Cormann hosting the Palmer United Party (PUP) leader at the nearby China Plate.
The latest rendezvous has fuelled speculation the government might be close to a sealing a deal on deregulating the university sector.
PUP has two of the six votes the government needs in the Senate to have its legislation clear parliament.
Right now, those two votes are opposed to the legislation.
So what did they talk about over dinner, reporters asked Mr Palmer when he arrived on Thursday morning at Parliament House.
"I was concentrating on eating rather than discussing," he said.
"I've taken the prime minister's lead in just being a good listener."
Mr Palmer said his position on the government's plan had not changed despite the dinner.
"Get it through your thick skulls: we're against it," he said.
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