Queensland Nickel: Clive Palmer says government ‘blocked’ defence speech

CLIVE Palmer says the Federal Government has blocked his plans to address parliament over serious allegations about his business conduct.

Reps Chamber

CLIVE Palmer says the government has blocked his plans to address parliament over serious allegations about his business conduct.

Queensland Nickel is likely to be put into liquidation on Friday and a damning administrators’ report has suggested Mr Palmer used it as a “piggy bank” to fund his other businesses and interests.

PALMER PLAN: How Nickel was left without a dime

His conduct at the company is also the subject of an investigation by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission.

The Fairfax MP denies wrongdoing and says he planned to address the allegations in parliament this week, but the government put a stop to that.

“I came to the parliament today and yesterday seeking to make a statement to parliament to clear the record,” he told AAP.

“The Labor party fully supported me doing that. The government vetoed it. They don’t want me to tell the truth.”

He will instead make a public address at 3pm.

Mr Palmer said he had proof that people had been bribed to say false things about him, and would not leave allegations unanswered. “Today at parliament house, outside the chamber, I will deliver a speech for the benefit of the people of Australia, so they can know the truth about the rubbish that’s been in the media, and that’s been planted by some of the 2000 media advisors the government employs.”