Judge slams Clive Palmer court case delay

A Federal Court judge has slammed Clive Palmer’s companies for months of delays in handing over documents.

Clive Palmer’s companies were criticised by a judge for delaying a court case. Picture: Ray Strange

A Federal Court judge has slammed Clive Palmer’s companies for their months of delays in handing over documents relating to the collapse of Queensland Nickel to liquidators.

In a stern rebuke, judge James Edelman told Sam Iskander, representing Mr Palmer’s QNI Metals and QNI Resources, that the delay was unacceptable.

“There’s just constant refusal or absence of response (from your clients),” he said yesterday. The delay was “geometrically multiplying costs in this court”.

Mr Iskander, a migration solicitor from Sydney, was representing QNI Metals and QNI Resources, the parent companies of Queensland Nickel, which collapsed into liquidation in April. Special purpose liquidators PPB Advisory successfully applied to the Federal Court months ago to have reams of documents released, although Mr Palmer’s companies said at the time the quantity of documents was “oppressive”.

Barrister Tom Sullivan QC, for PPB Advisory, said very few documents had been handed over. When the liquidators tried to meet the companies to narrow the categories required, they were unsuccessful.

Justice Edelman set down a review of the matter for Tuesday.