Clive Palmer faces nickel grilling at federal court

Clive Palmer turned up at Federal court without security guards this time ahead of examination over Queensland Nickel.

Clive Palmer is seen on arrival to the Federal Court in Brisbane. Picture: AAP

Clive Palmer has arrived at the Federal Court to be grilled about the collapse of Queensland Nickel, trumpeting his yet-to-be-filed defamation case against Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.

Mr Palmer turned up without security guards this time, flanked just by his legal team, ahead of the public examination at which he’ll be questioned by liquidators FTI Consulting’s barrister Walter Sofronoff QC.

The founder of the now-dormant Palmer United Party said Employment Minister Michaelia Cash and Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull would “have their day in court,” after he threatened to sue them both for defamation. Both criticised Mr Palmer’s involvement in Queensland Nickel and its collapse.

However, online court records in Queensland show no defamation suit has yet been filed.

Asked how he felt about testifying today, Mr Palmer said: “It’s really pleasing what’s happened with the investigation so far, the truth is coming out.”

He said his nephew Clive Mensink was having a “wonderful time” on his year-long overseas holiday. Mr Mensink, the sole director of Queensland Nickel when it collapsed last year under about $300m worth of debts, has been summonsed to return to testify. His lawyers have said he will cut short his overseas trip and turn up at the Federal Court twice next week.

Mr Palmer said he would hold a press conference later today to discuss further court action, despite the fact it would appear to clash with his appearance in the witness box.

He also claimed he did not try to avoid being publicly examined — decrying “fake news” — despite the fact he lodged formal applications and affidavits arguing he should not have to give evidence or produce documents.

Federal Court judge John Reeves last week denied Mr Palmer’s attempts to have the hearing cancelled or stayed and ordered him to appear today.

Mr Palmer’s lawyers asked for an adjournment until 2.15pm to discuss “settling the administration”, however no further details where given.

Registrar Murray Belcher ordered Mr Palmer to reappear this afternoon, however outside court, the mining magnate said “we’ll wait and see” about whether he would turn up or not.

After telling reporters when he entered he would hold an 11am press conference, he then re-negeged, saying instead he had to “go to a meeting”.

Legal negotiations between Mr Palmer, his legal team, and lawyers for general purpose liquidators FTI Consulting will continue in the hours before court is due to resume.

A trial is due to begin in less than a fortnight in the Supreme Court, in which Mr Palmer is trying to have the liquidators removed and replaced with another firm.