Clive Palmer’s bid to return to politics has been described as a “slap in the face” for workers from his collapsed Queensland Nickel refinery.

The controversial businessman will funnel money into his new United Australia Party.

In a press conference today, he faced a barrage of questions in relation to his credibility and his business dealings with Queensland Nickle.

But a number of the questions came not from journalists, but from Townsville’s Member for Herbert, Cathy O’Toole.

The Labor MP tells Ben Fordham it’s despicable, given Mr Palmer still owes money to his former workers.

“It’s a slap in the face to the people in my community to think that he can invest in his own political party and not pay people their entitlements.

“The people in our community are absolutely angry at this very fact that Clive thinks he can just wash what he’s done away and move on, bigger and better than ever.

“For him to say that 70% of the people in my community are backing him, that’s delusional.”

Listen to the full interview below