Palmer says ‘no fire sale’
Court date set to fight assets freeze
CLIVE Palmer denies he is planning a “fire sale” as the federal government pursues him for almost $70 million in taxpayers’ money it used to pay out sacked Queensland Nickel workers.
The former MP will return to court later this month in a bid to stop special purpose liquidators from freezing almost $220 million of his personal assets.
“I wouldn’t sell anything in a fire sale, I didn’t become one of wealthiest people in Australia by selling things cheap,” Mr Palmer told reporters.
Court documents filed in the Brisbane Supreme Court yesterday show liquidators are seeking to stop Mr Palmer from disposing or diminishing the value of almost $220 million of his personal assets.
A freezing order is also sought against QNI Metal for about $50 million, QNI Resources for $200 million, Mineralogy for $16 million and several other companies connected to Mr Palmer.
Mr Palmer said he was “not concerned at all” about the possible freeze, which will be argued before Justice John Bond on August 23.
“You never want to put your life on material things, I’m sure that’s not a problem for me but it’s never going to happen,” he said.
Mr Palmer had argued in court that the application should not go ahead without personally serving documents on his nephew Clive Mensink, who is a defendant. Mr Mensink, who was director of QN when the company collapsed leaving 800 refinery workers out of a job, departed Australia in June 2016 and is now subject of an outstanding arrest warrant.
The court heard Mr Mensink had last been in contact via email with his secretary in February but is assumed to be in touch with his lawyer Sam Iskander. Mr Palmer said he tried to email Mr Mensink in March and did not know where he was.
He also told the court Mr Mensink had given him authority before leaving the country to instruct Mr Iskander on his behalf and did not think his nephew knew about the recent court proceedings.
Justice Bond said it was likely Mr Mensink would eventually make contact with either his lawyer, secretary or Mr Palmer while he was “swanning around the world”.
Outside court, Mr Palmer touted his potential to fight for jobs, the economy and injustice.
CLIVE PALMER