Palmer’s mess to untangle

AS PREDICTED NQ Football faces a tough decision whether or not to accept a $ 100,000 sponsorship offer from Clive Palmer.

And as predicted the views on whether or not the association should take the money or refuse it on principle are divided.

The spoke to a variety of soccer clubs and all of the views were differing.

Some were wary, others found it too good to be true, while others firmly believed the association shouldn’t look a gift horse in the mouth.

But no sooner had the clubs started asking “what’s the catch”, news emerged that the controversial mining magnate, who claims he is in the process of trying to reopen his Yabulu Nickel Refinery, had approached the State Government to ask its assistance in his dealings with Port of Townsville.

When QNI closed in 2016 it was revealed the company owed the Port of Townsville about $ 1 million in unpaid harbour fees.

Court documents showed QNI failed to pay harbour dues for 13 ships that used the port for shipping cargo between October 2015 and February 2016.

The port has since been involved in lengthy legal battles.

Now Mr Palmer claims the only thing standing between him and reopening the refinery is his ability to access the port.

The Government has refused to step in on QNI’s behalf, even though the port is a state- owned asset.

The port is run by its chief executive Ranee Crosby and the Government is quite right to refer Mr Palmer to her to decide on the matter.

Mr Palmer plans to be in Townsville today to make an announcement on his future plans for the Yabulu refinery.

Of course, the Townsville community wants to see that facility operational and for the economic benefits to start to flow through the community.

However, the community wants things to be done properly.