Clive Palmer’s jetset lifestyle goes on as Queensland Nickel jobs in limbo

UPDATE: He swans about on his private jet, has recently bought a Rolls Royce, taken money from his and other people’s companies to spend on an election campaign, but now Clive Palmer expects taxpayers to bail him out.

Palmer United Party federal leader Professor Clive Palmer arrives to Brisbane General aviation hanger in one of his newly pa...

HE SPENT this week swanning about in his private jet, recently bought a Rolls-Royce, has taken money from his companies to spend on an election campaign, but now Clive Palmer expects Queensland taxpayers to bail him out.

Treasurer Curtis Pitt yesterday joined a WA judge in questioning why the self-proclaimed billionaire is not looking to his own business empire to save his refinery and its almost 800 workers.

Mr Palmer wants government assistance to help his troubled Queensland Nickel refinery in Townsville, which his lawyers said could go into administration this week.

Flight records show Mr Palmer’s jet has spent up to 14 hours travelling between the Gold Coast, Perth, Canberra and Sydney recently.

Based on hourly operating costs of a Bombardier Global Express, one of Mr Palmer’s planes, he would have racked up about $70,000 in flight costs in the past week.

BAIL OUT: Pressure on Palmer to keep refinery open

On Sunday, his plane is listed as having flown to Perth ahead of what would be a busy day in court for Mr Palmer, returning the following evening after bad news about losing the court case.

Days prior it had twice been to Sydney and back on Saturday, when he was campaigning with his Palmer United Party candidate for the North Sydney by-election.

One of Clive Palmer’s cars.

Mr Pitt said Mr Palmer had been asked to ensure all options had been explored to save the company using his own resources, while a Government-commissioned audit suggests it can trade its way out of trouble if nickel prices improve.

“Most people would expect Mr Palmer should pull out all stops to ensure he is using his broader wealth and business empire to ensure his refinery remains open,” he said.

Following a meeting with Mr Palmer on Tuesday, Mr Pitt said his office was continuing to speak to QN representatives due to the importance the refinery had to the Townsville economy and its staff. “It would be a pretty poor government that didn’t listen to any company talking about potential significant job losses,” he said.

WA judge Paul Tottle said on Monday Mineralogy had given no evidence about the possibility of it raising funds or financing its obligations through alternative means, like asset sales, equity finance, farm outs or joint ventures.

Workers leave the nickel plant. Picture: Evan Morgan

“It is somewhat surprising that there is no evidence about the alternative sources of finance that are commonly relied upon by businesses in the resources sector to finance their activities,” he said.

The WA Supreme Court, where Mr Palmer’s Mineralogy failed to win a $48 million payment order as part of a royalty dispute, heard this week Queensland Nickel gave $15 million to Palmer United Party in 2013-14, while he is expected to spend $10 million in legal fees over 12 months.

In 2013 there were reports he bought a Rolls-Royce Phantom drophead coupe, estimated to cost $1.3 million, which the Federal MP later famously drove to Parliament in Canberra.

His parliamentary register of interest lists vintage cars, motorcycles, boats, works of art, helicopters and memorabilia, while it was reported last month he had put his Cessna Citation up for sale for $7.35 million.

Mr Palmer did not respond to requests for comment yesterday but has since said workers at the north Queensland nickel refinery will receive their entitlements amid fears of jobs losses.

He said workers will be paid their entitlements no matter what happens.

“On our balance sheet, if you care to look at it, all their entitlements and everything are covered by the assets of the company,” he told ABC Radio.

“And we have no debt at all, so this is all a beat-up by Tim Nicholls just to get political points.”

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has insisted the State will carefully consider any possible precedent it would be setting were it to assist Mr Palmer’s private business.

Ms Palaszczuk has also called on Mr Palmer to be more transparent and provide more details in his dealings with the state.

“The Government, of course, will take that seriously into consideration about the precedent that would set,” she said.

“Once again, I want to make it very clear — our number one concern is for that workforce.

“It’s a large workforce and it would have a huge impact on the Queensland economy.

Mr Palmer needs to come forward and actually state what he is intending to do.”