Clive Palmer says retirement means time for diet and representing himself in court

Slimline Clive Palmer turns up at Supreme Court to represent himself in Queensland Nickel legal battle.

Clive Palmer has lost 42kg. Picture: AAP.

Clive Palmer has turned up to Queensland’s Supreme Court to represent himself in his legal battle over the collapse of Queensland Nickel, declaring he’d prefer to diet and go to court than play croquet in his retirement.

Former federal MP Mr Palmer and his myriad corporate interests are fighting a many-fronted battle over the $300m failure of the Townsville nickel refinery company, which fell into liquidation in April after nearly 800 workers lost their jobs.

Mr Palmer has been absent from most of the skirmishes being fought before Queensland Supreme Court judge John Bond in at least five different civil battles between Mr Palmer’s interests and liquidators, FTI Consulting and PPB Advisory.

But today, unexpectedly, Mr Palmer turned up to represent himself. After Justice Bond this morning ordered Mr Palmer’s companies pay costs to the liquidators in one aspect of the proceedings, the court was adjourned.

Outside, Mr Palmer stopped to talk to reporters, without the burly security guards he was flanked by when he was publicly examined before the Federal Court recently.

Asked why he was representing himself, Mr Palmer said he was retired, so had time.

“It’s an enjoyable process, and now I’m in retirement, some people join bowls clubs and play croquet, I’m dieting and representing myself in court, it’s wonderful,” he said.

When one reporter remarked that he didn’t have his security guards with him, Mr Palmer said: “No, I don’t think I need security for nice people like you.”

Most of the reporters were the same as those who covered the Federal Court hearings.

Mr Palmer said he had lost 42kg “as of this morning, and still going, it’s still happening”.

“I still think fat people are beautiful,” he said.

Mr Palmer’s nephew Clive Mensink, was the sole director of Queensland Nickel when it collapsed. He’s been overseas for months on an extended holiday and has not been served by liquidators to appear before a public examination.

However, Mr Mensink has still been able to file lawsuits against liquidators, with one matter to be heard before the Federal Court this afternoon.

Mr Palmer said he knew nothing about it, despite it being mentioned in court before Justice Bond this morning.

“Has he? I didn’t take much notice of it (what was said about it in court),” Mr Palmer said. “He normally does that through the normal process of instructing solicitors. Unlike me, he acts like a normal citizen, he goes to a solicitor, who goes to a barrister and that’s what they do.”

Mr Palmer said he didn’t not know when Mr Mensink was coming back.

“I don’t look after his life,” he said.

He said he was still intending to reopen the Yabulu nickel refinery next year, despite not having the required government approvals, QN owing hundreds of millions of dollars to suppliers, and not having necessary contracts with the port.

“Yeah, I think so, there’s a large number of people up there who are working hard at that. We’ve had over 550 people register for their jobs up there,” Mr Palmer said.

The matter will return to court this afternoon.