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Minor parties in talks on joining forces

Two crossbench senators have met with Clive Palmer to discuss how to boost the micro-party vote at the next election.

Palmer United Party leader Clive Palmer.
Two crossbench senators have met with Clive Palmer to discuss how to boost the micro-party vote. (AAP)

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Source: AAP


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Clive Palmer has held talks with two key crossbench senators on teaming up to get minor party candidates elected.

The billionaire and Palmer United Party founder met with Family First senator Bob Day and the Liberal Democrat David Leyonhjelm in Canberra for about 20 minutes on Thursday.

The meeting came just days after the government announced changes to Senate voting rules, which experts say will kill off the chances of independents and minor parties winning seats and entrench the major parties.

An alliance of so-called micro-parties, with which Senator Leyonhjelm keeps in close contact, has already been considering standing candidates in marginal Liberal lower house seats at the election.

But Mr Palmer sought the views of the two senators on whether they would consider joining forces with PUP, possibly under a single party banner.

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Senator Leyonhjelm talked down the prospects of one party being formed, but appreciated the benefits of closer cooperation on preferences.

"I'm not sure it is a goer," he told AAP on Friday.

"Clive was a bit vague about whether to register a new party or use a new name for marketing purposes."

There could be further discussions on whether a logo - set to be allowed on Senate ballot papers for the first time under the new laws - could be used to highlight the micro-parties.


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