Budget 2014: Clive Palmer Caught on Camera Dozing; Blames PM Tony Abbott Replies for Making Him Fall Asleep at Question Time

Sleeping — A member of the Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) sleeps during a vote counting session for the parliamentary election at an analysis centre in Baghdad May 11, 2014. Reuters

A member of the Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) sleeps during a vote counting session for the parliamentary election at an analysis centre in Baghdad May 11, 2014. REUTERS/Ahmed Saad (IRAQ - Tags: POLITICS ELECTIONS)

MP Clive Palmer was caught on camera on Wednesday dozing off in Parliament. He blamed Prime Minister Tony Abbott for boring him during the Question Time, causing him to take an unexpected and unplanned nap (http://www.news.com.au/finance/economy/clive-palmer-nods-off-in-parliament-in-question-time/story-fn84fgcm-1226917626416?from=public_rss).

Palmer was seen slumped in his seat while his chin was on his chest as the billionaire miner and MP nodded off.News.com.au opined that the MP for Fairfax must have been tired by nighttime because he was up on Wednesday morning for TV appearances to give his insight on the newly released Coalition budget for 2014-15.

Palmer, who leads the United Party, delivered a speech about the budget at the Hyatt Hotel in Canberra over lunch.

Another MP, Mal Brough, gave Palmer a glass of water to help keep him awake.

The MP admitted he was a bit sleepy because of 38 interviews during the day and because he started Wednesday at 2 am, while he normally wakes at 4 am

Palmer later tweeted, "@TonyAbbottMHR sent me to sleep during Question Time avoiding questions about his cruel & heartless budget."

Like other non-Coalition MPs, Palmer found the budget full of broken promises. He told ABC, "First of all it's based on the fact that they say our debt is out of control. If you get the OECD figures you see Australia has got 12 per cent of its GDP in debt. The average for the OECD of all our advanced economies is 73 per cent."

He stressed, "There is no debt crisis so this is an excuse to have an ideological budget, one that can hit people they don't like."

Palmer also said he would oppose the$7 co-payment for each GP visit, saying it would eat up one-third of the $300 pension of an elderly Australian who has to visit the GP four or five times a week.