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| titanic 2 |
As a way of drawing attention to one's election campaign, it is – if nothing else – unique. Clive Palmer, one of Australia's wealthiest businessmen, has unveiled plans to build a replica of the Titanic, which he hopes will sail from England to New York in 2016. He has also announced he is standing for federal parliament in the seat held by the deputy prime minister and treasurer.
In separate press conferences on Monday, the mining billionaire first surprised the political world by declaring he would be contesting the Labor politician Wayne Swan's seat in parliament. Hours later, Palmer managed to outdo himself by announcing a second shock bid: this time to harness the latest technology and build Titanic II. "It will be every bit as luxurious as the original Titanic but of course it will have state-of-the-art 21st-century technology and the latest navigation and safety systems," he said.
Asked if Titanic II could meet the same fate as its predecessor, Palmer told reporters: "Of course it will sink if you put a hole in it." He added: "Of course, if you are superstitious … you never know what could happen."
Palmer said he had signed a memorandum of understanding with the Chinese state-owned company CSC Jinling Shipyard to build the replica ship, which he said would be as close as possible in size to the original.
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| | Clive Palmer said the new Titanic would be as close as possible in size to the old one. Asked if it would sink, he said: 'If you put a hole in it.' Photograph: Dan Peled/EPA |
He also said he had invited the Chinese navy to escort Titanic II on its maiden voyage from Britain to the US. He did not say how much the project would cost.
Titanic II, in Palmer's eyes, will be a tribute to the men and women who built the original ship. "These people produced work that is still marvelled at more than 100 years later and we want that spirit to go on for another 100 years," he said.
Palmer, who made his money in real estate and then mining, is also a major donor to the Liberal National party and conservative opposition.
Announcing he was running for parliament, he accused Swan of believing in "the redistribution of wealth and making the economy smaller". He said: "We live a democratic society, and I intend in [sic] exercising my democratic rights to put my views against the treasurer in his home seat."
Swan responded by saying he relished the chance to stand against a magnate who – he said – had used his fortune to not only distort public policy debates but also public policy outcomes.
The row between the two men centres on the mining industry's opposition to a new tax on their operations, due to come into force this year. The government says it wants the tax to help spread the wealth of Australia's huge mining boom. The miners plan to oppose it in the high court.
Palmer's surprise announcement followed another unexpected intervention in politics last month in which he accused the CIA of being behind political attacks on the mining industry in Australia. He said its objective was to make the US coal industry more competitive.
A plane crashed in western Nepal in 14-May-2012, killing 15 people. Taruni Sachdev was among them when a 20 seater Agni Air Dornier plane slammed into a cliff in western Nepal. The plane was flying from Pokhara, Nepal, a major tourist destination, to Jomsom which is about 60 km away. Her mother Geetha Sachdev, who was with her on the flight, also died in the crash.
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