For Clive Palmer, seeking political power is business ‘strategy’

PUP leader Clive Palmer viewed winning political power as a ‘strategy’ to get his business projects off the ground.

Bill Schoch arrives at court for his case against Clive Palmer.

Palmer United Party leader and resources tycoon Clive Palmer viewed winning political power as a “strategy” to get his huge business projects off the ground, a court has heard.

The Sunshine Coast MP is today too ill to testify before a Queensland Supreme Court judge, to defend a multi-million-dollar damages claim brought by a disgruntled former employee.

Bill Schoch, who described himself as a “trusted friend” of Mr Palmer before he was sacked as general manager of the Coolum resort in December 2013, yesterday testified that the businessman also roped him into running for PUP at the September 2013 federal election.

“As far as I was concerned, it was just another task allocated by Clive,” Mr Schoch told the court. “The chances of me getting elected to federal parliament were absolutely zero.

“I’m not a political animal, I have no political interest … Clive had big projects to get up; he needed local government, state government, federal government, international government support. One of his strategies is the political process. He needs support for what he does.

“ I was happy to participate in that process.”

Mr Schoch was defeated in the Sunshine Coast electorate of Fisher, but Mr Palmer however, won the neighbouring seat of Fairfax, after standing PUP candidates in all 150 House of Representatives seats.

An accountant by trade, Mr Schoch is suing Mr Palmer for nearly $5 million for breach of contract, after a relationship that spanned four decades. He claims the businessman rang him in June 2011 and offered him $5m for five years’ work, but the deal was never put in writing.

Mr Palmer, along with his companies Queensland Nickel and Mineralogy, is defending the claim and denies any wrong­doing.

Documents tendered to the court show Mr Schoch was employed at an annual salary of between $100,000 and $150,000.

Mr Schoch said that was his “base” salary and did not include the “real deal” — of $1m a year for five years — verbally agreed with Mr Palmer.

In cross-examination, Simon Couper QC, for Mr Palmer, yesterday put to Mr Schoch that the $5m offer never occurred.

Mr Couper: “This is just fantasy, isn’t it Mr Schoch?”

Mr Schoch: “No.”

Asked why he never again raised the $5m deal with Mr Palmer until December 2013, when he was sacked, Mr Schoch said he trusted Mr Palmer.

The trial continues.