Clive Palmer denies ‘pulling strings’ in failing Queensland Nickel

CLIVE Palmer has blown up big time on morning TV, brushing off claims he acted improperly over his business interests.

CLIVE Palmer has had another breakfast TV blow-up, accusing Sunrise host David Koch of not doing his job and “beating up” claims of corrupt dealings by the larger-than-life mining magnate.

The pair teed off on Seven’s morning program following an explosive investigation that claims Mr Palmer was pulling the strings in troubled company Queensland Nickel, making multimillion-dollar decisions despite publicly stepping down as director after his election to Parliament.

Creditors have this morning recommended the company be liquidated.

In the heated interview Tuesday morning, Mr Palmer rejected the claims and accused Kochie and the wider media of unfairly targeting him.

“This is the biggest beat-up,” the angry MP said.

“The press runs wild because ‘let’s get Clive Palmer off the political scene’, because he stopped the 2014 budget, he saved the country from obliteration. It’s about politics.”

Mr Palmer tried to deflect the damaging claims by drawing attention to other ailing businesses, and had a crack at his interviewer while he was at it.

“Thousands of people have lost their jobs — 22,000 people in Queensland — but you haven’t reported it. You haven’t been there for the other companies have you,” he said.

“I’m not important, they’re important Kochie. Do your job, investigate them!”

Kochie fired back at the former CEO, reiterating claims he acted as a “shadow director” of the troubled Townsville refinery before it ran into trouble.

Things got heated on Sunrise when Clive Palmer was forced to answer allegations. Picture: Channel 7

Queensland Nickel has debts of about $100 million and creditors have recommended the operation wound up.

A damning Four Corners report, which aired last night, said documents, including many emails sent from the address of Mr Palmer’s alias Terry Smith, indicated Mr Palmer kept ultimate control of the company.

The program claimed a paper trail showed Mr Palmer insisted on approving all significant spending and maintained his role in the day-to-day running of the company.

After the allegations aired, Mr Palmer rejected claims in another heated interview on ABC’s Lateline.

Mr Palmer said he was “absolutely not” a shadow director in the company. He said he was one of six people in a joint venture committee, set up when the Queensland government was a shareholder in the business-making decisions.

“Well my role was set out in the joint venture agreement as a member of the joint venture committee to direct Queensland Nickel to make sure they complied with the terms of the agreement as a manager,” he said.

“I was only a member of a group of people which were employees of the company, not directors, and of course I’d previously been the CEO of the company and I had a knowledge of what things needed to be bought.”

While calling interviewer Emma Alberici by the incorrect name, Anna, throughout the interview, Mr Palmer defended his businesses practices and referred to a five-year-old news story where he was named “boss of the year”.

He also defended using an alias when sending email to Queensland Nickel staff. He laughed off questions saying he used the email to make restaurant bookings and that the emails were signed “Clive”.

“If I wanted to make an appointment at the Wild Duck restaurant and Terry Smith made the appointment, you media wouldn’t be there bothering me,” he said.

“If there was a reservation under my name, there would be 20 or 30 media at the restaurant.” Mr Palmer was also quizzed about an email sent with the Terry Smith alias where he argued against advice to bring forward an oil pipeline safety inspector.

“That’s my nephew Martin cautioning me,” he said.

“I rejected his advice. That was my prerogative to do so as a member of the committee, as other people could have had contrary views if they wanted to.”

The larger than life mining magnate copped a grilling from Emma Alberici.

The denials come as Mr Palmer may be preparing to bat off some more unfavourable claims with a report to be released today that could be just as damning.

Administrators of Mr Palmer’s beleaguered Queensland company are set to announce whether or not they think the operation should be wound up.

The jobs of about 550 workers have been in limbo since Mr Palmer re-entered the operation under a new entity, Queensland Nickel Sales, which took over from administrators last month.

It has since remained in the spotlight due to ongoing financial woes, the frustration of workers and their families, and its repeated breaches of safe ammonia levels in nearby creeks.

The Australian Workers Union (AWU) believes liquidation is likely and would be welcomed by workers because they’d then be able to access a federal scheme covering some of their entitlements.

The fate of Queensland Nickel will ultimately be decided on April 22, when creditors meet in Townsville to vote on administrator FTI Consulting’s recommendations.

About 550 Queensland Nickel workers have been out of the job since in limbo since last month. Picture: Zak Simmonds