Clive Palmer’s nephew to face civil contempt trial despite absence, almost a decade after summons issued

Nearly a decade after the collapse of Queensland Nickel, the fugitive nephew of mining magnate Clive Palmer is set to face trial on a charge of contempt of court, even though he’s not in the country.

Clive Mensink leaves the Supreme Court in Brisbane in 2016. (AAP Image/Dave Hunt)

Nearly a decade after the collapse of Queensland Nickel, the fugitive nephew of mining magnate Clive Palmer is set to face trial on a civil charge of contempt of court.

During a case management hearing in the Federal Court in Brisbane on Tuesday morning, Justice Darryl Rangiah ordered that the trial be listed for a three day hearing starting on October 29.

The charge is being prosecuted by the registrar of the Federal Court and alleges Mensink failed to turn up at court to be examined in February and March 2017 about the collapse of the company.

He had been summonsed by the court in August 2016.

Clive Palmer isn’t accused of any wrongdoing

The examination was part of hearings by the special purpose liquidators appointed in the wake of the Queensland Nickel collapse.

Mr Mensink left Australia apparently for a holiday on about June 6, 2016, and spent time in Bulgaria but has not returned to Australia, the court previously heard.

Clive Mensink pictured in a shopping centre in Sofia, Bulgaria, in 2018. Picture: Ella Pellegrini

He was represented in court on Tuesday by barrister Surya Palaniappanfir who told the court her client had given his evidence in an affidavit already filed in court.

The trial was set to be heard in 2023 but was delayed due to his absence and due to his lawyers unsuccessfully trying to block the contempt charge, submitting the court should throw it out.

They argued that he has not been properly served with the contempt application and statement of charge so the Federal Court lacked jurisdiction to hear and determine the contempt proceeding.

Mr Mensink was the director of Clive Palmer’s Queensland Nickel at the Yabulu refinery near Townsville when it collapsed in 2016, leaving 800 people out of work and $300m of debts.

Barrister Amelia Hughes appeared in court representing the registrar of the Federal Court said that there was expected to be four witnesses called at trial including Mr Mensink.

Justice Rangiah said that Mr Mensink was still allowed to claim privilege over his evidence if he wishes to do so.