"Most deplorable act of greed": Clive Palmer suing Australia
Clive Palmer is seeking $300 billion in damages from the Australian government over a rejected mine in Western Australia.
The mining billionaire's company, Zeph Investments, lodged the lawsuit on Tuesday, which claims Australia owes him around $297 billion in damages, not including interests and costs,
The lawsuit claims Australia breached the Asean free trade deal when Western Australia not only rejected Palmer’s massive Pilbara iron ore mining project, but also introduced a law that prevented him from getting any compensation for it, which he claims cost him billions.
In order to help make his case, Palmer has enlisted the help of Former federal and WA attorney-general Christian Porter to work for Zeph Investments.
The lawsuit has prompted a wave of outrage from WA Premier Mark McGowan, who referred to Palmer as "treacherous", and the "greediest man in Australian history".
Answering a question in WA Parliament's Legislative Assembly, Mr McGowan read from a prepared statement.
"Today we have seen the most deplorable act of greed in Australian history," Mr McGowan said,
"One of the richest people in Australia, Clive Palmer, now wants more money. And he's suing his country to get it."
Federal Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus said the latest legal action would be "vigorously" defended.
"The Commonwealth will work with Western Australia to ensure Australia's interests are protected," he said in a statement.
"As these matters have now become the subject of an investor-state claim, it would not be appropriate to provide further comment at this time."
The federal member for Perth, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister Patrick Gorman, said WA residents had been through this before, saying, "No one wants to see another Clive Palmer lawsuit,"
"And no Australian wants to see $300 billion of taxpayers' money handed over to Clive Palmer in this absolutely ridiculous lawsuit."
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