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Don't do Palmer's work for him, Springborg says

Monday, 7 Mar 2016 07:09:58

Queensland Nickel went into voluntary administration in January. (AAP)

The State Government has been put under unfair pressure to guarantee a $10 million loan to bail out Clive Palmer's Queensland Nickel refinery in Townsville, Opposition Leader Lawrence Springborg says.

FTI Consulting was appointed to run Mr Palmer's Yabulu refinery when it was put into voluntary administration on January 17 after sacking 237 workers.

In a final bid to save the refinery, administrators had asked the State Government to step in as guarantor for a $10 million loan.

The State Government has been considering the risk in guaranteeing the loan.

Queensland Treasurer Curtis Pitt also sent the request to Federal Treasurer Scott Morrison, who rejected the plea.

On Sunday, Mr Pitt said the Queensland Government was still considering whether to grant the loan request to keep the plant open on several conditions, including that Mr Palmer exits the Townsville business and full access to the company's books.

Mr Pitt said any funding to Queensland Nickel would need to be fully secured.

"Every move that we make is involving Queensland taxpayers' money so we would be very, very cautious to see a situation where there was an unnecessary precedent set," he said.

Mr Springborg said the State Government should not assist.

"I think that there has been some pressure on the Queensland Government to step in and to do Mr Palmer's work for him," he said.

"Mr Palmer is the one who should be ultimately responsible here.

"He runs around, boasts about his extraordinary wealth and yet he seems to be stepping away from this."

Administrators FTI Consulting declined to comment and the ABC has contacted Mr Palmer for comment.

Townsville Mayor Jenny Hill said she welcomed the State Government's approach.

"If we can remove Clive Palmer from the running of the company then there's an opportunity for the Government to support and for the company to be sold and these workers to keep their jobs," she said.

Townsville MP Scott Stewart said it had been a difficult time for Queensland Nickel staff.

"No-one likes to be dangling out there in the uncertainty of what their future looks like in regards to their jobs and their family, so the quicker we can get this resolved the quicker we can put to bed those anxieties," he said.

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