Clive Palmer told to spend money on koalas, give WA a break

WA Premier Mark McGowan says that if he was as rich as iron ore magnate Clive Palmer he would stay in Queensland and save the koalas.

Clive Palmer. Picture: Russell Shakespeare

West Australian Premier Mark McGowan says that if he was as rich as iron ore magnate Clive Palmer he would stay in Queensland and save the koalas or help the mentally ill instead of trying to drain WA’s coffers with a $30bn lawsuit.

The war between the West Australian government and Mr Palmer has been escalating daily, and Mr McGowan on Thursday said he had lost count of the number of writs the billionaire had ­issued against the Labor state government.

“That is why we are getting ­advice on whether or not we can get him declared a vexatious ­litigant,” Mr McGowan said.

Including a defamation action against Mr McGowan personally, Mr Palmer has seven known court actions on foot against the WA government.

One is a challenge against the state’s hard border and another is a damages claims over an iron ore development in the Pilbara that relates to a decision of the previous Liberal Barnett government. In state parliament, WA Attorney-General John Quigley has described the sum of the damages claims as $27.25bn and equivalent to the state’s annual budget. It amounts to $12,000 for every man, woman and child in WA, Mr Quigley said.

“Talking to him and negotiating with him on the basis we might pay him money is not going to work,” Mr McGowan said on Thursday. “I don‘t understand Mr Palmer. I don’t understand how he thinks.”

Mr Palmer is now attempting to prove that Mr McGowan and Mr Quigley are guilty of contempt of the High Court. Mr McGowan said that if he had Mr Palmer’s wealth he would spend his time and money differently.

“If I was worth $5bn, you know what I’d do if I was living in Queensland? I’d go and help people who are mentally ill, I’d go and save the koalas, I’d go and work on helping the Great Barrier Reef, I’d go and (help) homeless people,” Mr McGowan said.

“I wouldn’t be out there trying to get $30bn out of the people of Western Australia — $50,000 for every household.”

The WA parliament passed emergency legislation that effectively bans Mr Palmer from suing over his Pilbara mine. Mr Palmer has responded with an alternate action in the Queensland ­Supreme Court.

When Mr Palmer announced his decision to bring a case against Mr McGowan and Mr Quigley for contempt, he issued a media statement saying he did so reluctantly.

“Personally I bear no ill will ­towards Mark McGowan or John Quigley,” Mr Palmer said on Wednesday.

“But I must respect the institution of the courts, being the only institution in this country which stands between chaos and good order and that protects and ­defends the Australian Constitution and the welfare of all Australians.

“All Australians must be free to have access to our courts. Free from intimidation, fear or threats. Free from vitriolic abuse and violent rhetoric. Free from injury and damage should they seek to rely on the rule of law.”