Palmer defends private jet commute

Clive Palmer has defended his choice to commute to parliament in his private jet. Source: AAP

BILLIONAIRE and newly elected MP Clive Palmer believes it's pointless investigating the disappearance of Senate ballot papers in Western Australia and says the original election result should stand.

The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) directed a recount on October 10 of some WA Senate ballot papers, prompted by the close margin of just 14 votes for the sixth Senate seat and appeals by the Australian Greens and Australian Sports Party.

The recount looked at informal votes and 1.2 million above-the-line ballot papers.

During the recount, 1375 votes - which had been verified in the initial count - could not be "located, rechecked or verified in the recount process".

The AEC apologised and has hired former Australian Federal Police commissioner Mick Keelty to independently, and urgently, inquire into the matter.

The initial result gave seats to the Palmer United Party's Zhenya Wang, Labor's Louise Pratt and Joe Bullock and the Liberals' David Johnston, Michaelia Cash and Linda Reynolds.

Fourteen votes were the difference between Mr Wang and Senator Pratt finishing fifth and sixth ahead of the Greens and Australian Sports Party.

Mr Palmer, who this week won the Queensland seat of Fairfax by 53 votes, said on Friday the WA Senate's first result should stand now that votes were lost in the recount.

"They should go back to what the result was," Mr Palmer said.

He called the appointment of Mr Keelty a "pull down the shades trick".

AEC spokesman Phil Diak said there was nothing to suggest an "untoward removal" of the ballot papers.

Special Minister of State Michael Ronaldson did not think it was an "issue of skulduggery", but said it was a disturbing development which required an inquiry.

Independent senator Nick Xenophon thinks there should be a fresh election in WA if the ballot papers cannot be found.

"Better to cost money now than have a result where there is a question mark over those that have been elected," he said.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten said WA deserved an explanation and, while there was a way to go with due processes, another election could not be ruled out.

Labor also warned Mr Palmer to be wary of conflicts of interests when he takes his seat on November 12.

Mr Palmer, whose wealth has been estimated at between $1 billion and $6 billion, has 28 days to declare his pecuniary interests on the official parliamentary register.

He told the ABC this week he might hold "40 or 50" directorships and own about "15 or 20" properties.

Labor frontbencher Anthony Albanese said all MPs needed to be careful with their pecuniary interests.

"He's entitled to the view that he'll do the right thing and where there is a conflict of interest on a piece of legislation then he won't participate in that," Mr Albanese said.

"I think that's a reasonable thing to expect."

Mr Palmer said he was entitled to vote on all bills and motions.

"It's the ministers who have a responsibility ... not me," he said.

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