11 July 2013:
Clive Palmer vs K Rudd: Two of Queensland’s most polarising sons are partaking in some legal fisty-cuffs over Palmer’s proposed operation of a lucrative new port in the Pilbara of Western Australia.
The ABC reports that the Federal Government has begun legal action to preclude Palmer’s company, Mineralogy, from operating the security-regulated Cape Preston iron ore Port near Karratha.
Mineralogy was granted the right to operate the port just six months ago, however West Australian Premier Colin Barnett is believed to have urged the Federal Government to revoke the licence on the grounds Mineralogy does not have the credentials to operate the port.
The port has been built to ship iron ore from a $7 billion mine being developed by the Chinese company CITIC Pacific.
The move is understood to have the support of CITIC Pacific, which built the port, and is currently embroiled in a bitter legal battle with Mr Palmer over royalty payments from its iron ore project.
The ABC has been told the decision to try to revoke the licence is likely to spark another legal battle with Mr Palmer who stands to lose tens of millions of dollars as the operator of the port.
Add Comment