Clive Palmer details defamation claim against Mark McGowan

WA Premier Mark McGowan defamed Clive Palmer by imputing he was a ‘traitor to Australia’, lawyers for the billionaire have said.

Clive Palmer. Picture: Russell Shakespeare

West Australian Premier Mark McGowan defamed Clive Palmer by imputing he was a “traitor to Australia” who intended to harm the people of WA, lawyers for the billionaire have said.

A statement of claim filed by the former MP in the NSW Federal Court identifies six times Mr McGowan allegedly defamed Mr Palmer, claiming he had been “brought into hatred, ridicule and contempt” as a result of comments Mr McGowan made across a number of press conferences and Facebook posts.

The statement of claim says Mr Palmer is seeking aggravated damages because of Mr McGowan’s failure to apologise, the “grossly defamatory publi­cations” made by the Premier after Mr Palmer’s lawyers sent him a letter seeking an apology, and the “extreme and sensational language” adopted by Mr McGowan.

In addition to damages, the claim seeks interest, costs and orders that Mr McGowan be permanently restrained from making the same or similar comments in the future.

Mr Palmer and Mr McGowan have been at loggerheads for months after Mr Palmer launched legal proceedings to bring down WA’s hard border with the eastern states.