Aaron Bunch Journalist with Australian Associated Press | Collection of published work | + 61 484 008 119 | abunch@aap.com.au
Palmer Qld Nickel trial set to kick off
Billionaire businessman Clive Palmer is expected to front court to defend a $200 million lawsuit against him over the collapse of Queensland Nickel.
July 15, 2019
Clive Palmer is expected to front a Queensland court to defend a massive federal government lawsuit against him and nephew Clive Mensink over the collapse of Queensland Nickel.
It’s taken more than two years for government-appointed liquidators of QN to bring the billionaire businessman to trial.
They’re trying to claw back about $200 million owed to creditors when the Townsville refinery collapsed in early 2016, leaving hundreds without a job.
A 280-page claim, first lodged at the Brisbane Supreme Court in June 2017, names 21 defendants, including Mr Mensink and a string of Mr Palmer’s companies.
The special purpose liquidators’ task includes trying to recover almost $70 million in taxpayer funds used to cover unpaid entitlements to about 800 workers sacked from the refinery.
Mr Palmer has fought hard to have the claim dismissed over the past two years, which he initially described as baseless and a desperate politically motivated attack by the government.
That fight will continue on Monday when The United Australia Party leader will launch a last-minute legal bid to delay the start of the trial, The Australian newspaper has reported.
The former federal MP’s key expert defence witness is reportedly “incapacitated”, court documents lodged on Thursday say.
The trial is expected to run for 45 days.