Dreyfus demands Mensink face extradition if charged

FUGITIVE businessman Clive Mensink should be immediately extradited to Australia if criminal charges are laid against him, according to Labor’s shadow attorneygeneral Mark Dreyfus.

Mr Dreyfus, a QC and former Attorney-General, said the runaway nephew of Clive Palmer should be brought back to Australia to face questioning over the collapse of Queensland Nickel in 2016, with the loss of 800 jobs.

His comments come as the Government and ASIC come under increasing pressure to act against Mr Mensink, who fled overseas two-and-a-half years ago and is refusing to return to face questioning in court.

News Corp yesterday revealed how a legal path had been identified to extradite Mr Mensink from Bulgaria, where he has been hiding out since his uncle’s company failed.

Corporate watchdog ASIC has revealed for the first time that it is considering criminal proceedings against Mr Mensink, but no final decision has been made on whether to charge him.

“If criminal charges are laid against Mr Mensink, the Australian Government should leave no stone unturned in extraditing him to Australia without delay,’’ Mr Dreyfus said. “Mr Mensink (has) never fully accounted for (his) appalling behaviour in the collapse of Queensland Nickel, which led to significant job losses in Queensland.

“If Mr Mensink thinks he has nothing to hide, he should return to Australian voluntarily to face the music.’’

Mr Dreyfus joins AttorneyGeneral Christian Porter in calling for Mr Mensink to return to face questioning over the collapse of QN with more than $215 million in debt. The Federal Government stepped in to pay $64 million in workers entitlements, and workers still remain $10 million out of pocket. Mr Mensink was the sole director at the time.