PUP's Wang grilled on campaign finances

Palmer United Party senator-elect Dio Wang says he supports Palmer policies because they are "really sound'.

Palmer United Party senator-elect Dio Wang doesn't believe Clive Palmer would use money from a business fund to pay for his election campaign.

But the West Australian senator-elect hasn't asked the billionaire founder of PUP about it because it is not his business to know.

"I find it really hard to believe," Mr Wang told the ABC when asked about the allegations on Thursday.

But he wouldn't sever ties with Mr Palmer if it were true.

"No, I won't. There is nothing I can do."

Mr Wang supports Mr Palmer's policies, including free university education because it is an investment in the future.

"His policies are really sound," Mr Wang said.

Like Mr Palmer, Mr Wang, who starts his term in July, wants to get rid of the carbon and mining taxes.

But he will try to block the government's bid to repeal the mining tax if the Abbott government continues with cuts to veterans.

"We think it is only fair that we should look after our veterans," he said.

Before joining PUP last year Mr Wang had "zero" experience in politics.

He became interested after watching politicians say one thing before an election and do another afterwards.

Earlier this week West Australian Premier Colin Barnett said the state's talks with China on iron ore issues were being affected by Mr Palmer.

Mr Palmer's Mineralogy remains locked in bitter legal disputes with Chinese state-owned CITIC Pacific over iron ore and port issues in WA's Pilbara region.

"It does make a difference and to put it bluntly, the Chinese hate Clive Palmer," Mr Barnett told ABC radio on Tuesday.

Mr Wang said he didn't know why the premier made that statement.


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Source: AAP


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