Clive Palmer back in Australia, appears in Planning and Environment Court

CLIVE Palmer says there’s a good reason he didn’t catch up with his fugitive nephew while on a Mediterranean cruise.

Clive Palmer at a recent court hearing in Perth. Picture: Tony McDonough/AAP

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CLIVE Palmer says he didn’t catch up with globetrotting nephew Clive Mensink while he was in Europe on a luxury cruise last month.

Mr Palmer was in the Planning and Environment Court this morning for mediation in relation to environmental protection orders made by the State Government in regards to Queensland Nickel’s Townsville refinery.

His nephew, Clive Mensink, has two warrants issued for his arrest and has previously told the Federal Court he would return to Australia in July.

But Mr Palmer said outside court this morning he hadn’t seen Mr Mensink and he didn’t know when he would return.

“I can understand why he’s disillusioned with Australia, why he is disillusioned with the system over here...” he said.

When asked why Mr Mensink had been so hard to get hold of, Mr Palmer said, “I’ve got no idea.

“That’s up to him. I’m here, I love Australia, I love Queensland.”

Mr Palmer said they didn’t reunite on his recent Mediterranean cruise.

“Certainly if you are taking your wife on a romantic holiday, don’t take your nephew, I can tell you that,” he said.

The former federal politician said he wasn’t worried about a mammoth lawsuit being mounted against him by the government-appointed liquidators of Queensland Nickel to claw back more than $200 million in alleged debts.

He denied the liquidators’ allegations that he was a shadow director of the company and that it was trading insolvent since late 2015.

“That is absolutely not true, and they know it’s not true,” Mr Palmer said.

The beleaguered resources magnate ended the impromptu press conference outside court by announcing he was off to get a Tim Tam.

Recent news of Mr Palmer’s family cruise — and $7.6 million gifted to his father-in-law in Bulgaria — angered former staff of Queensland Nickel who are still owed thousands in entitlements.