Clive Palmer in bid to stop $210m debt claim

CLIVE Palmer wants a court to declare that the conduct of Queensland Nickel’s liquidators is “unconscionable”, as he tries to avoid an alleged $210 million debt.

Clive Palmer’s companies QNI Resources and QNI Metals filed a Federal Court claim while Mr Palmer was enjoying a luxury cruise last month. Picture: Supplied

CLIVE Palmer wants a court to declare that the conduct of Queensland Nickel’s liquidators is “unconscionable”, as he tries to avoid an alleged $210 million debt.

The former politician’s companies QNI Resources and QNI Metals have filed a claim in the Federal Court ­asking for it to void a call ­notice issued by the government-appointed liquidators for the alleged debt last month.

The $210 million represents almost two-thirds of the $350 million that liquidators allege Mr Palmer’s businesses owe QN, which collapsed last January with a $300 million creditor bill and 800 job losses.

The new Federal Court claim was lodged while Mr Palmer was enjoying his luxury cruise last month, and seeks 13 determinations including that the call notice for QNI Resources and QNI Metals to pay $210 million be declared “null and void”.

A declaration is also sought that the liquidators “have acted in excess of legitimate power they have as liquidators of Queensland Nickel” and that their conduct is “unconscionable” under Australian Consumer Law.

The claim also asks the court to forbid the liquidators from issuing further call notices.

It is alleged Mr Palmer’s companies have been prevented from reopening the Yabulu refinery due to the conduct of the liquidators.

Workplace Health and Safety Queensland has also expressed concern about the site, the court document ­revealed.

The case will be mentioned in court for the first time next Thursday.

Government-appointed liquidators PPB Advisory launched a multimillion-dollar Supreme Court claim last month against Mr Palmer, his globetrotting nephew Clive Mensink, his father-in-law, two mystery women and various companies he owns.

Mr Palmer, whose wealth was estimated to be about $344 million in May, is also being pursued for about $300 million personally to pay his own alleged debts to QN and as compensation for allegedly breaching his duties as a director.

He has labelled the lawsuit “a desperate attempt for the government to act for political purposes”.