Nickel refinery computer audit to check for PUP work

An audit is under way to determine whether Clive Palmer is continuing to use his nickel refinery’s resources for his own party.

A thorough inspection of all ­computer systems at Clive ­Palmer’s Queensland Nickel is under way to determine whether the federal MP is continuing to use the company’s stretched ­resources for his own political gain.

The Australian can reveal ­administrator FTI Consulting is investigating claims a request for maintenance of the Palmer ­United Party’s website was logged and completed by QNI’s information technology department as recently as last week.

Documents allege QNI director of operations Ian Ferguson and managing director Clive Mensink are signing off on ­approvals for the IT department to perform tasks when required by other Palmer interests.

It is claimed that all working hours are tracked through ITSM, the system used at QNI for IT changes, and that an ITSM was raised last week to perform changes to the PUP website.

According to the documents, the tracking of individual IT jobs allows the hours to be separated from the administration costs.

The Australian understands the IT system hardware is owned by QNI Resources and QNI Metals, whereas the software systems are owned and paid for by QNI.

An FTI Consulting spokesman confirmed yesterday an ­internal review of the IT department was being carried out as part of a wider investigation of all the company’s operations.

He said the misuse of computer resources was being looked at along with allegations of political donations, but stressed the price of nickel remained the biggest factor in determining the future of the refinery.

Mr Palmer and the company’s two directors were contacted for comment but did not respond by deadline.