Clive jets in on quiet
EMBATTLED busi ness man Clive Palmer flew into Townsville yesterday on a surprise visit.
It’s understood the richest man in Queensland arrived in a private jet about 2.20pm.
The jet was still on the Townsville Airport tarmac late yesterday. It is understood the plane was refuelled and was expected to fly out some time last night.
The purpose of Mr Palmer’s visit was unknown. Last week he announced he wanted to reopen his Yabulu nickel refinery.
Mr Palmer said there was about $ 7 billion worth of cobalt in tailings at the refinery which closed in January, 2016, leaving about 800 people out of work.
Cobalt is a valuable component of batteries.
He said demand for batteries for electric vehicles, coupled with rising prices for nickel and cobalt was behind the decision to re- open the plant.
Last night Mr Palmer dined at the Watermark restaurant with a group of about eight people. When approached by the Townsville Bulletin Mr Palmer said he was having dinner and was not prepared to talk at that time.
Meanwhile, Mr Palmer will return to court later this year to continue defending a criminal charge brought against him by the corporate watchdog.
The former federal MP was due to argue he had no case to answer over aiding, abetting, counselling or procuring the commission of an offence by another person in Brisbane Magistrates Court yesterday but the matter was adjourned. He didn’t appear.
The charge, levelled by ASIC in April, relates to the unfulfilled 2012 proposal to buy shares of another company that owned properties at his troubled Sunshine Coast resort.
Under corporations law he was required to make an offer within two months of announcing his intentions but failed to do so, ASIC said.
Mr Palmer claims the criminal charge is politically motivated and has said he would fight the allegations. His matter is listed for a one- hour hearing on August 30.