Palmer appeals for valid first WA vote

Clive Palmer will ask the High Court to declare the first count in WA, which Dio Wang won thanks to preference deals, the valid poll.

Federal MP Clive Palmer at the National Press Club

MP Clive Palmer. (AAP)

Clive Palmer has announced a High Court challenge to attempt to have his party's Senate candidate Dio Wang declared a winner in Western Australia.

Mr Palmer told reporters in Perth he will ask the High Court to declare the first count in WA, which Mr Wang won thanks to preference deals, the valid poll.

The Australian Electoral Commission lost 1370 votes from various polling booths around Perth.

The AEC had already lodged a petition in the High Court asking for the vote to be declared invalid, and former federal police commissioner Mick Keelty is leading an investigation into what happened to the missing ballots.

But Mr Palmer said he did not think another election should be held, and the first count should be used.

"We think it is a waste of taxpayers money," Mr Palmer said.

"It is clear the recount was invalid. Why should the candidates and the community be put through that again?"


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Source: AAP


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