"It will all come out in the wash," Mr Bjelke-Petersen told AAP. Mr Palmer said it was news to him that his mate had quit Queensland's governing party. He's a friend of mine. I speak to him on many occasions but I don't think there's an announcement to be made," Mr Palmer told AAP. Asked if he'd like to recruit his friend for Palmer's United Party, he said: "I'll have to wait to have a chat to him." Federal MP Bob Katter, who served as a minister in the Bjelke-Petersen government, said his party was not trying to poach the late premier's son. "We did look at John, but we decided to go elsewhere at no disrespect to the Bjelke family, who we greatly respect," a spokeswoman for Mr Katter told AAP.