Mensink wants public to fund business class fare

GALLIVANTING former Queensland Nickel boss Clive Mensink wants taxpayers to cough up $ 50,000 for him to return to Australia, and is demanding to fly business class “because of his physical size”.

A Federal Court judge yesterday ordered Mr Mensink to return by March 27 to give evidence at a public examination into the collapse of QN. If he doesn’t he must explain why an arrest warrant should not be issued.

Special purpose liquidators PPB Advisory, working on behalf of the Federal Government to claw back about $ 70 million for taxpayers, had applied for a warrant to be issued immediately, but were unsuccessful.

Barrister David de Jersey, acting for the liquidators, told the court Mr Mensink ( pictured) requested “business class travel to Australia because of his physical size”.

Mr Mensink’s barrister, Alex Nelson, countered that it was not unusual for people of “normal size” to struggle to travel in economy, but conceded the businessman was “a larger than average fellow”. A compromise of an exit row was suggested, but Justice John Dowsett declared if Mr Mensink wanted to travel business class, he could pay for the upgrade himself.

Mr Nelson said his client may find it was “not reasonable” to fly economy.

Justice Dowsett responded: “... But a lot of people do it, don’t they? Perhaps he should have thought of that before he went overseas.”

An email trail between the liquidators and Mr Mensink’s lawyer on the court file shows he requested $ 30,000 to $ 40,000 to cover the expenses of his return, and an extra $ 20,000 for the interruption to his “bonding” holiday with his new girlfriend.

But through his lawyer, he urged the liquidators to wait until his return to Australia in July, rather than use money that could go to creditors.

Justice Dowsett said Mr Mensink must nominate his preferred departure airport and date by March 3.