Queensland Nickel fallen tycoon Clive Palmer swaps court sick bag for Gold Coast Fish House dinner

CLIVE Palmer was so ill he turned up to court with a sick bag on Tuesday but recovered to dine out on seafood later at a top Gold Coast restaurant.

A JAPANESE eatery lunch on Monday, ill clutching a sick bag in Federal Court on Tuesday, followed by seafood at a top Gold Coast restaurant that night.

Embattled tycoon Clive Palmer returned to court in Brisbane yesterday again carrying a sick bag during the examination of Queensland Nickel’s collapse with $300m in debts and 800 job losses.

Despite claims he suffers pancreatitis and memory loss due to painkillers — supported by testimony from his GP — a judge has declared him fit to give evidence.

Businessman and former federal MP Clive Palmer speaks to the media as he leaves the Federal Court in Brisbane, Wednesday, May 17, 2017. Mr Palmer faced another round of questioning by liquidators for his failed Queensland Nickel company that collapsed in early 2016, with creditors owed about $300 million and leaving almost 800 refinery workers without jobs. Photo: AAP Image/Dan Peled

The Gold Coast Bulletin can reveal his ailments didn’t stop him heading to top eatery The Fish House in Burleigh on Tuesday night or going to Paradise Point Japanese restaurant Tetsu Aki for lunch on Monday.

At The Fish House with his wife, he ordered a dozen Sydney rock oysters and a Patagonian toothfish for the main, several witnesses said.

2016: Clive Palmer gets into his car after leaves a restaurant after lunch with a friend at Sanctuary Cove on the Gold Coast. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen/The Australian

One witness said he was a bit quiet and “looked under the weather”.

At Tetsu Aki on Monday, a diner said he seemed “sprightly” and “happy as larry” — but it’s a description Mr Palmer yesterday called “rubbish”.

Mr Palmer told the Bulletin: “I had lunch with my wife and lawyer. What you say is not true — the evidence shows my condition.

Embattled businessman Clive Palmer leaves the Federal Court after giving evidence at the public examination of the collapse of Queensland Nickel. Photo: Claudia Baxter

“You should get a real job and read the expert evidence. See you in court — I’m sure I (sic) be recovered for that case,” Mr Palmer said.

Seafood is recommended for pancreatitis and Mr Palmer agreed when asked about his Fish House dinner: “True, but I had little. My wife enjoyed it. I just had oysters and a small grilled fish.”

Asked how he managed dinner out when he appeared so ill at court that day, he said: “As stated in court today (Wednesday), my morphine treatment terminated yesterday with resolution of pain related issue.

“Consequently this morning I was much better to be able to be as helpful as I could.”

Embattled businessman Clive Palmer leaves the Federal Court with his barrister Andrew Boe (left) after giving evidence at the public examination of the collapse of Queensland Nickel. Photo: Claudia Baxter

Last week, Gold Coast GP Reza Zabihi Madah was cross-examined in court, saying Mr Palmer was diagnosed with gall stones, hospitalised in March and his condition “fluctuates”.

Judge Dowsett denied an application at the time by Mr Palmer’s lawyers to adjourn proceedings until his health improved.