❓ Mr. Healy questions the Premier on the government's success in defending legal actions against the state, specifically regarding Clive Palmer, and how WA is partnering with the Commonwealth to prevent future attacks. The Premier responds by strongly criticizing Palmer's actions and defending the government's stance.
AnsweredQoN 624Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
CLIVE PALMER — LEGAL ACTION
624. Mr T.J. HEALY to the Premier:
I refer to the Cook Labor
government's commitment to standing up for Western Australia.
(1) Can the Premier inform the house of the government's
success at defending legal actions against the state?
(2) Can the
Premier advise the house how WA is partnering with the commonwealth to help
prevent another legal attack from Clive Palmer?
624. Mr T.J. HEALY to the Premier:
I refer to the Cook Labor
government's commitment to standing up for Western Australia.
(1) Can the Premier inform the house of the government's
success at defending legal actions against the state?
(2) Can the
Premier advise the house how WA is partnering with the commonwealth to help
prevent another legal attack from Clive Palmer?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) I
thank the member for the question. It is an important question because, as we
all know, there is greed and then there is Clive Palmer. Only Clive Palmer
would try to sue his own country for $300 billion. Having lost his outrageous bid to sue Western Australia for $30 billion
in the High Court, Clive Palmer is now
sitting in The Hague claiming he is owed 10 times that amount. His claim of
$300 billion is staggering , audacious and an outrage. To put that in
perspective, that kind of money would propel Mr Palmer from one of Australia's
richest people to one of the richest people in the world. The unusual thing
about this legal action is that it hinges on the court accepting that Mr Palmer
is a Singaporean businessman. Having failed to sue our state as an Australian,
he is now trying to sue the country as a Singaporean. May I remind the house that this is the man who established the
United Australia Party. A man who claims to love Australia is suing it
for all its worth. These are the actions of a villain.
Members, let us go through the
history, because it is important for Parliament to be well aware of the calibre
of this man. This all stems from the Balmoral South project in the Pilbara that
was approved with conditions some 13 years ago. Mr Palmer did not want to
adhere to those conditions, so he decided not to proceed with the project.
Instead, he tried to sue the government and make his money that way. We all
remember when Clive Palmer tried to undermine WA's strong position
during the pandemic and took us to the High Court to drag down our borders. He
failed. I remember well, because I was the health minister at the time and everything was at stake—our
health, our economy and our jobs. Who could forget that it was the Liberal Party that supported Mr Palmer's
bid to open the border that protected our health and economy . Then he tried to sue Western Australians for around
$30 billion—and lost. He took that case to the High Court and
lost. Since 2020, Clive Palmer has brought 15 separate legal actions against
the state. Now, acting as a Singaporean businessman, he is trying to sue
Australia for $300 billion.
Western Australia standing up to
Clive Palmer is the impetus for this week's legal action, and we will continue to support the federal government to
stand up for all Australians in this latest case. As Clive Palmer himself has admitted under questioning, ''I'm not used to being
accountable to anybody.'' His legal attacks may never stop, but we will never give in to his demands. As Premier, I will
always do what is right for WA, unlike those opposite, the Liberals and the
Nationals, who were happy to side with Cliver Palmer in an act of political desperation. That is what the opposition is all
about; it is inexperienced, chaotic and dysfunctional, and its members
will say and do anything for some sort of political mileage. Western Australians
will never forget.
Visitors — Attadale
Primary School
The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Before I
give the call to the Leader of the Liberal Party, I had a rehearsal a minute
ago; I will try it again. On behalf of the member for Bicton, I would like to
acknowledge teacher Asiri and year 6 students from Attadale Primary School in
the gallery.
thank the member for the question. It is an important question because, as we
all know, there is greed and then there is Clive Palmer. Only Clive Palmer
would try to sue his own country for $300 billion. Having lost his outrageous bid to sue Western Australia for $30 billion
in the High Court, Clive Palmer is now
sitting in The Hague claiming he is owed 10 times that amount. His claim of
$300 billion is staggering , audacious and an outrage. To put that in
perspective, that kind of money would propel Mr Palmer from one of Australia's
richest people to one of the richest people in the world. The unusual thing
about this legal action is that it hinges on the court accepting that Mr Palmer
is a Singaporean businessman. Having failed to sue our state as an Australian,
he is now trying to sue the country as a Singaporean. May I remind the house that this is the man who established the
United Australia Party. A man who claims to love Australia is suing it
for all its worth. These are the actions of a villain.
Members, let us go through the
history, because it is important for Parliament to be well aware of the calibre
of this man. This all stems from the Balmoral South project in the Pilbara that
was approved with conditions some 13 years ago. Mr Palmer did not want to
adhere to those conditions, so he decided not to proceed with the project.
Instead, he tried to sue the government and make his money that way. We all
remember when Clive Palmer tried to undermine WA's strong position
during the pandemic and took us to the High Court to drag down our borders. He
failed. I remember well, because I was the health minister at the time and everything was at stake—our
health, our economy and our jobs. Who could forget that it was the Liberal Party that supported Mr Palmer's
bid to open the border that protected our health and economy . Then he tried to sue Western Australians for around
$30 billion—and lost. He took that case to the High Court and
lost. Since 2020, Clive Palmer has brought 15 separate legal actions against
the state. Now, acting as a Singaporean businessman, he is trying to sue
Australia for $300 billion.
Western Australia standing up to
Clive Palmer is the impetus for this week's legal action, and we will continue to support the federal government to
stand up for all Australians in this latest case. As Clive Palmer himself has admitted under questioning, ''I'm not used to being
accountable to anybody.'' His legal attacks may never stop, but we will never give in to his demands. As Premier, I will
always do what is right for WA, unlike those opposite, the Liberals and the
Nationals, who were happy to side with Cliver Palmer in an act of political desperation. That is what the opposition is all
about; it is inexperienced, chaotic and dysfunctional, and its members
will say and do anything for some sort of political mileage. Western Australians
will never forget.
Visitors — Attadale
Primary School
The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Before I
give the call to the Leader of the Liberal Party, I had a rehearsal a minute
ago; I will try it again. On behalf of the member for Bicton, I would like to
acknowledge teacher Asiri and year 6 students from Attadale Primary School in
the gallery.
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