PALMER ‘ OFFSIDE’
CLIVE’S SHOCK $ 100K FREE KICK FOR NQ FOOTBALL
CONTROVERSIAL mining magnate Clive Palmer has been blasted for his $ 100,000 charm offensive targeting a Townsville sporting group.
Mr Palmer has reportedly tabled a $ 100,000 sponsorship deal to help prop up NQ Football. The Townsville Bulletin understands the NQ Football Ltd board was seriously considering the offer from the embattled businessman and Palmer United Party- turned- United Australia Party figurehead.
Sources close to the NQ Football board told the Bulletin there was a push to have the arrangement finalised by tomorrow, when Mr Palmer was expected to visit Townsville.
Herbert MP Cathy O’Toole slammed the offer last night, declaring it “salt in the wound” for former QNI workers still waiting for payment.
“I think he’s trying to do everything he possibly can to get the community onside except the one thing he should do and that’s pay those workers,” she said. “It’s not fair.”
Details of the sponsorship arrangement remained unclear but the Bulletin understands it involves an initial upfront payment, followed by a series of future payments based on the sponsorship terms, if agreed.
“It’s almost a donation,” one source said.
Mr Palmer was tight- lipped about the reported offer yesterday.
He said he was “trying to help out the community in Townsville in general” and “there could be” an announcement made this week, but he was unsure of the status of any sponsorship proposal.
Ms O’Toole said she understood sports clubs needed support from the business community, but not this sort of help.
“He ( Mr Palmer) would be well advised, if he wants to ingratiate himself with the people of our community, he would be well advised to pay former QNI workers their entitlements,” she said.
Football Queensland general manager of football operations Brendon Boss said there was no requirement for Football Queensland to authorise basic sponsorship arrangements between zone organisations and third parties.
“Football Queensland welcomes any sponsorship investment in football that complies with Football Federation Australia guidelines and licensing agreements for National Premier Leagues Queensland,” Mr Boss said.
“We will work closely with NQ Football, as we do with all of our zones and assist them with their inquiries as part of our sponsorship approval process.”
Under regulations sponsor logos and messages can’t be political or religious in nature.
It’s understood any relationship would be commercial in nature and Mr Palmer would not take any role on the board.
NQ Football board members would not comment on the sponsorship offer yesterday.
Mr Palmer’s Queensland Nickel refinery at Yabulu collapsed in January 2016, with debts of about $ 300 million and 200 workers left jobless.
Townsville Deputy Mayor Les Walker resigned from the NQ Football board earlier this month after a 12- month stint with the organisation. Cr Walker denied his resignation was due to any sponsorship offer and said he had not been privy to any details.
He said the board was travelling “really well” but he’d withdrawn from a number of community organisations recently to remove any risk or perception of conflicts of interest.
Cr Walker previously expressed cynicism about the announced QNI refinery reopening.
Mr Palmer previously sponsored North Queensland Fury and bankrolled now- defunct A- League club Gold Coast United during a tumultuous stint as chairman.