Palmer deal still a chance

ANOTHER Clive Palmer deal over the Queensland Nickel collapse is brewing as lawyers at the $200 million liquidation trial enter their fourth night of behind-the-scenes talks.

On Thursday, the billionaire businessman made his first concession during his massive lawsuit against liquidators in the Brisbane Supreme Court, following the Townsville refinery’s collapse in 2016.

The mining magnate, who has previously said he has “a moral responsibility” to fight liquidators, agreed to pay $18 million to settle an $88 million claim for Aurizon’s unpaid rail transport fees, the largest creditor claim against him.

The news of the Aurizon claim breakthrough was swiftly followed by a top lawyer for the liquidators, Shane Doyle, saying they “hoped to advance” other issues between them and the defendants with more talks. Late yesterday afternoon, a lawyer for Mr Palmer’s companies, Dr Chris Ward SC, excused himself from the court to re-enter those talks saying he’d return within the hour.

“There’s been movement in discussions between the parties and it would assist if I was in a room with Mr Doyle,” he told Justice Debra Mullins.

But at the close of the day’s proceedings, Mr Ward and Mr Doyle were still in talks and no information about the prospective deal was shared with the court.

It was left to another lawyer for the liquidators, Graham Gibson, to ask Justice Debra Mullins to adjourn the matter to Monday.

Despite the progress being made resolving the three-year stand-off, Mr Palmer was again a no-show at court yesterday.