Aaron Bunch Journalist with Australian Associated Press | Collection of published work | + 61 484 008 119 | abunch@aap.com.au

Aaron Bunch
Palmer to cross-examine top liquidator

Clive Palmer is expected to cross-examine a Queensland Nickel liquidator, who says the refinery was losing $1 million a week when administrators were called in.

July 31, 2019

Clive Palmer is expected to return to court to cross-examine a subpoenaed witness in the Queensland Nickel collapse trial after taking more leave to brief an insolvency expert.

It’s not the first day the billionaire businessman has missed of the Brisbane Supreme Court trial which is examining liquidators’ claims for about $200 million following the Townsville refinery’s demise in 2016.

But it caught the attention of Justice Debra Mullins, who was surprised the former Federal MP wasn’t in court to cross-examine top QN liquidator, John Park.

“So Mr Park was a witness Mr Palmer wanted to cross-examine?” she asked on Tuesday afternoon as the liquidator was sworn in.

“Didn’t he subpoena Mr Park?”

A lawyer for the mining magnate’s companies, Dr Chris Ward SC, refused to speak for his boss but said he didn’t expect to finish questioning Mr Park until Wednesday, inferring Mr Palmer would be in court then to cross-examine the witness.

Mr Palmer missed most of Tuesday to brief his replacement insolvency expert.

The expert is expected to testify QN wasn’t insolvent before administrators took over the business.

Later, while being questioned by Dr Ward, Mr Park told the court QN was losing about $1 million a week when administrators arrived at the cash-strapped refinery in January 2016.

Within two weeks a $5 million black hole quickly doubled in size when creditors began demanding payment on overdue accounts, he said.

The refinery’s dire situation was a contrast to the lavish lunch meeting Mr Palmer laid on for Mr Park and his team at a Gold Coast restaurant as they negotiated administrators taking over the allegedly insolvent refinery.

Days later, Mr Park met with Mr Palmer again. This time at Mr Palmer’s Palazzo Versace apartment at Main Beach on January 13, Mr Park said.

Two days later, Mr Palmer and his team axed 237 workers from the refinery in last-ditch bid to cut costs.

The trial continues on Wednesday.

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