Palmer was called to the Singapore Bar in 1995 and joined the law firm Harry Elias Partnership as a legal consultant before becoming a partner in 1998.

[6] Palmer made his political debut in the 2006 general election as part of a five-member PAP team contesting in Pasir Ris–Punggol GRC and won.

He was elected as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Punggol East SMC after defeating Lee Li Lian of the Workers' Party and Desmond Lim of the Singapore Democratic Alliance.

[4] Palmer was subsequently nominated by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong for the office of Speaker of Parliament, before being elected by the House on 10 October 2011.

[1][8] At a press conference, alongside Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean, Palmer admitted he had made "a grave mistake" and that it was "a serious error of judgment".