Clive Palmer says it is extraordinary that the West Australian government will deny Andrew Forrest’s Fortescue Metals Group the same royalties discount it has afforded two Chinese-controlled magnetite iron ore projects for the past six years.

Mr Palmer hit out after WA Premier Mark McGowan said new magnetite projects, including Fortescue’s $US2.6 billion ($3.8 billion) Iron Bridge development, would not get the same assistance as CITIC’s Sino Iron mine or the Ansteel-controlled Karara mine.