Clive Palmer has apologised for telling Prime Minister Tony Abbott to "commit suicide" because of his government's plan to deregulate university fees.
On Wednesday Mr Palmer that his party would vote against the government's higher education changes even if it adopts a compromise plan outlined by HECS architect Bruce Chapman to levy universities that charge high fees.
In a blow to the government, PUP senator Zhenya "Dio" Wang - whom Mr Abbott said he was banking on to convince his PUP colleagues to support deregulation - said he no longer supports allowing universities to charge their own fees.
At a Wedneaday press conference Mr Palmer said: "There's a million students going to tertiary education in this country. There's a million more that's about to go, and a million more that's just left.
"So commit suicide Tony Abbott, you know."
Questioned by reporters whether this was an appropriate thing to say Mr Palmer said: "It's political suicide to go against the will of the Australian people."
An hour-and-a-half later Mr Palmer tweeted: "Today I inadvertently used the term suicide in regard to @TonyAbbottMHR when I meant political suicide. I apologise for any offence caused."
Marc Bryant, project manager at Mind Frame, which provides guidance on reporting and communicating about mental illness, urged public figures not to use the phrase "commit" suicide because it is stigmatising and can be highly distressing to the families of those who have taken their lives. Mind Frame publishes a guide about speaking publicly about suicide.
Mr Palmer said Professor Chapman's proposal would not win PUP support for higher education reform.
"The answer for Christopher Pyne is no, no and no again," he said.
Senator Wang, who has previously publicly supported fee deregulation, said he had changed his personal view on the issue and no longer supports it.
Senator Wang said his past statements in support of deregulation were "only in the process of thinking through the policy".
"I toe the party line and fully support our party's stance on higher education," he said. "I am only one third in the party room."
On Wednesday morning Mr Abbott said that "plainly Senator Dio Wang is very keen on our proposals and hopefully as the Palmer Party discusses this more and more Senator Wang will be more and more influential".
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