Clive Palmer’s Anna wife to face court in finance probe after Queensland Nickel collapse

CLIVE Palmer’s wife is being compelled to give evidence as liquidators probe his finances and alleged phony transactions of more than $100 million.

CLIVE Palmer’s wife is being compelled to give evidence in court as liquidators probe his finances and alleged phony transactions of more than $100 million.

Orders were issued in a Brisbane court yesterday for compulsory questioning of Anna Palmer, as well as senior accountant Derrick Vickers and a long-term business ally of Mr Palmer, Domenic Martino, The Australian reports.

Federal Court Registrar Murray Belcher reportedly issued the orders after Chris Curtis, a lawyer for FTI Consulting, asked that the court be closed.

Affidavits and other supporting material provided to Registrar Belcher were sealed.

Clive Palmer's wife Anna Palmer in Brisbane. Picture: Tara Croser.

Ms Palmer was a director of two of her husband’s companies, Waratah Coal and China First, which put in bids for $100m and $135m against Queensland Nickel shortly before it collapsed last year.

Investigations by administrators, FTI Consulting, later released a report to creditors that the transactions appeared to be invalid and may be unreasonable and uncommercial.

The refinery collapsed in 2016 with about $300m in debts.

It’s believed Mr Palmer or his wife and their associates were unaware of the order yesterday but The Australian reports the Australian Securities and Investments Commission was given notice.

The matter was not publicly listed by the Federal Court.