Clive Palmer blames Kevin Rudd for Melbourne airport fuel delay - The Australian

Clive Palmer vents his frustration after he was told PM Kevin Rudd's plane would be refuelled before his, saying it will 'undermine democracy in Australia'.

Palmer United Party leader Clive Palmer spins a game wheel and has a funny rant about Kevin Rudd and Tony Abbott while he waits to do a breakfast radio interview in Melbourne.

To celebrate the often wacky nature of an election campaign, The Australian has compiled some of its favourite gaffes from politics past and present.

An irate Clive Palmer, in white shirt, on the phone at Melbourne airport this morning. Picture: Sam Ruttyn Source: TheAustralian

Clive Palmer says he won't budge his plane to make room for the Prime Minister's as his private jet waits to be refuelled at Melbourne airport today. Source: Supplied

LABOR has dismissed as nonsense biillionaire political hopeful Clive Palmer's accusation that the Prime Minister stalled his campaign by stopping his private jet from being refuelled at Melbourne airport.

Mr Palmer says he was left stranded at the airport this morning, unable to fly on to Tasmania.

The magnate says the refuelling hose was hooked up to his jet when a call came through that the fuel was needed for Kevin Rudd's plane, which was yet to land.

Mr Palmer says the Prime Minister's plane then sat at Melbourne airport for more than an hour without being refuelled, while the fuel meant for his aircraft was left sitting idly on the tarmac.

The Palmer United Party leader suspects the move was a ploy from Mr Rudd to hinder his campaign efforts.

"Rudd directed that to happen from the air in his jet, because we saw the telephone call go to the refueller, who unplugged us and refused to give us our fuel," a livid Mr Palmer told AAP.

"It's a sad day for democracy when the prime minister tries to use the power of government and the law to crush people in Australia and to stop people from having the right to freedom of speech."

A Labor spokesperson later responded: "This is complete nonsense.''

Mr Palmer says there were heated scenes at the airport, particularly when he was told to move his plane for Mr Rudd's and Australian Federal Police became involved.

"I went down the steps and said: 'Arrest me'," Mr Palmer said.

"'We're not moving our plane, arrest me, mate'."

Mr Palmer says the saga has cost him at least three hours of campaign time in Tasmania.

AAP