Billionaire businessman Clive Palmer will defend a massive federal government lawsuit over the liquidation of his Townsville nickel refinery.

July 16, 2019

Billionaire businessman Clive Palmer has arrived in court to fight a massive multi-million dollar lawsuit against him over the collapse of Queensland Nickel.

The former federal MP is defending the federal government lawsuit against him and nephew Clive Mensink over the liquidation of his Townsville refinery which left hundreds without a job.

Government-appointed liquidators of QN are trying to claw back about $200 million owed to creditors after it shut down in early 2016.

Day one of the trial in the Brisbane Supreme Court was a washout on Monday after Justice Debra Mullins agreed to delay the battle so the warring parties could sit down for talks.

It’s kicked off again on Tuesday but before opening statements are heard, the court will consider Mr Palmer’s last-minute legal bid to postpone it because defence witness Peter Dinoris is reportedly “incapacitated”.

If the trial is not delayed, Mr Palmer argues he will be denied natural justice and suffer “very significant prejudice”.

He has already fought hard to have the liquidators’ claim dismissed, having described it as baseless and a desperate, politically-motivated attack.

The 280-page claim, first lodged in the court in June 2017, names 21 defendants, including Mr Mensink and a string of Mr Palmer’s companies.

The liquidators’ task also includes recovering almost $70 million in taxpayer funds used to cover unpaid entitlements to about 800 workers sacked from the refinery.

The trial is expected to run for 45 days before Justice Mullins, who took over proceedings after Justices John Bond and David Jackson recused themselves.

Mr Palmer is representing himself.