SYDNEY -- In a vicious tirade on live television Monday night, controversial Australian politician Clive Palmer labelled the Chinese government "mongrels," and accused them of "shooting their own people".
On the ABC panel show Q & A, the billionaire leader of the Palmer United Party -- which holds the balance of power in the Australian Senate -- was responding to questions about a court case with Chinese-owned company CITIC Pacific when the conversation turned heated.
Host Tony Jones asked Palmer about allegations that he siphoned more than $12 million from the company to fund his election campaign.
While denying the accusations, Palmer flew into a rant about the "Chinese bastards" who he claimed are taking over the country.
"It won't stop the fact the Chinese government wants to bring workers here to destroy our wage system," he said to Jones. "It won't stop the fact they want to take over our port system, and get our resources for free. So far, they have shipped $200 million of iron ore out of this country without paying for it. And I don't mind standing up to the Chinese bastards, and stopping them from doing that."
"I’m saying that because they’re communist, because they shoot their own people. They haven’t got a justice system, and they want to take over this country," he continued. "We’re not going to let them do it".
After the show, Palmer took to Twitter to clarify his comments.
My #qanda comments not intended to refer to Chinese people but to Chinese company which is taking Australian resources & not paying #auspol— Clive Palmer (@CliveFPalmer) August 18, 2014
The Australian government has come out swinging, alleging that Palmer's personal issues with the Chinese government should not be aired on national television, and that they are extremely damaging to Australia.
''I think it is hugely damaging for Mr. Palmer to make those sort of comments,'' Australian treasurer Joe Hockey said. ''He is in a very obvious legal dispute with his Chinese partners, but I'd say to Mr Palmer, please don't bring down the rest of Australia because of your biases.''
Barnaby Joyce says Clive Palmer's tirade is "not helpful". His "emotive & colourful language" is not the way that you do business #auspol— Jennifer Rajca (@jrajca) August 18, 2014