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Category: Courts and Trials / Law, Crime and Justice / Company News / Clive Palmer

Clive Palmer says blaming him for Queensland Nickel collapse unfair

Thursday, 16 Feb 2017 09:15:19 | Josh Bavas

Mr Palmer says Townsville should be thankful he provided jobs at the refinery for seven years. (ABC News: Josh Bavas)

Clive Palmer has told the Federal Court in Brisbane it is unfair to blame him for the collapse of Queensland Nickel, as he is questioned for a second day.

The businessman and former federal MP is giving evidence as liquidators probe his involvement in the failed Queensland Nickel company, which left hundreds of millions of dollars in debts and the loss of about 850 jobs in Townsville.

Mr Palmer told the court he recently spoke to his nephew Clive Mensink, the director of the collapsed Queensland Nickel, despite him being subject of a court summons.

Mr Mensink is due in court on Monday after a summons was issued for his appearance.

During questioning about Mr Mensink's whereabouts, Mr Palmer said his nephew was in the United States after recently going on a cruise.

But Mr Palmer said he only became aware of the court summons after the phone call.

Barrister for the special purpose liquidators, Walter Sofronoff, asked for Mr Palmer to hand over Mr Mensink's phone number, which was tendered to the court.

During questioning this morning, Mr Palmer was quizzed about some of Queensland Nickel's large expenses while the company was booming in 2011.

The court heard Mr Palmer billed Queensland Nickel $1 million to employ a representative in Kyrgyzstan to explore mineral opportunities in eastern Europe.

It was revealed the company also paid about $250,000 to charter a private jet to fly the representatives from Kyrgyzstan's capital Bishkek to Singapore to meet him at a Forbes function.

Townsville should be thankful for refinery jobs: Palmer

Outside court earlier this morning, Mr Palmer told media he provided "thousands" of jobs to north Queenslanders by purchasing the company from BHP in 2009.

He said it was unfair for him to be blamed for the company's collapse, and pointed out he looked after his workers over the years and even purchased dozens of luxury cars for them when the business was going well.

"I can decide what to do with my money," Mr Palmer told the court.

"That was my money and if I decide to give my workers 54 Mercedes Benz or 1,500 holidays because they worked hard — they made real changes."

Mr Palmer said the Townsville community should be thankful he provided jobs at the nickel refinery for the seven years before it collapsed.

"I don't think there's any other citizen of Townsville or anywhere in this state of Queensland that would put their own personal guarantee to ensure that 3,000 Queenslanders should stay employed," he said.

The hearing has been adjourned.

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