Palmer tells sacked QN workers to get job

CLIVE Palmer has stunningly declared sacked Queensland Nickel workers should show some “initiative” and get a job while defending his luxury Mediterranean cruise.

The former billionaire resurfaced in Brisbane yester- day after his European holiday last month, and hit out when asked if the outrage over his trip among QN’s former workers was justified.

“I am not responsible for your job and your family; you are,” Mr Palmer said.

“If you happen to be unemployed for two years, that doesn’t show much initiative about yourself does it?

“Why not move location or go somewhere? I wouldn’t be unemployed for two years, I accept my responsibility to look after my wife and my children and I expect anyone else should, too.”

QN collapsed last year with $300 million in debts and 800 workers were made redundant.

Mr Palmer has since been involved in about a dozen court cases and was at the Planning and Environment Court yesterday attending mediation with the State Government relating to environmental protection or- ders placed on QN’s refinery in Townsville.

While he couldn’t talk about the mediation session, he revealed he enjoyed the cruise and denied there was a reunion with his globetrotting nephew and former QN director, Clive Mensink.

“If you are taking your wife on a romantic holiday don’t take your nephew,” he said.

Mr Mensink has been overseas more than a year and has two warrants for his arrest.

He previously told the Federal Court he would return this month and was prepared to give evidence at a public examination into QN’s demise.