Blog

Clive Palmer has appointed Brisbane pharmacist Jeremey Sheridan to lead the effort to oversee the large-scale manufacturing of Hydroxychloroquine in Australia and the acquisition of the drug as soon as possible.

Mr Sheridan stated in Brisbane today:

“While the clinical trials in Australia in 50 hospitals may take four to five months to complete it is important that arrangements for the large-scale manufacture or acquisition of Hydroxychloroquine proceed quickly so that there will be no delay making a successful treatment available to all Australians as soon as possible.

“We cannot wait. To delay now could cost Australian lives in the coming months. We cannot wait to start the process of large-scale acquisition of the drug.

“When the drug is required it needs to be available,’’ Mr Sheridan said.

Clive Palmer confirmed last Friday he had discussions with Health Minster Greg Hunt and other ministers and members of the Australian Government, as well as senior officials of the Health Department, to cut through any red tape that would delay an immediate response to ensure that all Australians would have access to the drug as soon as possible.

Mr Palmer stated that he had agreed to personally fund the acquisition or manufacture of over 1,000,000 courses of Hydroxychloroquine and to make it available to the government to be placed on the National Health Stockpile for the free use of Australians affected by COVID- 19.

Mr Palmer confirmed that would result in over 30,000,000 doses being placed in the National Health Stockpile.

“The first 1,000,000 courses will be the first step to ensure that all Australians regardless of their financial circumstances will have access to Hydroxychloroquine as soon as possible,’’ Mr Palmer said.

“We are proceeding as fast as we can to initiate the manufacturing process in Australia, I have a strong commitment not to let the community down. I will spend whatever it takes and do the best that I can to ensure that when the time comes, we as Australians can respond to the challenge that faces us all.

“At this time of national crisis in our country, all Australians must do whatever they can to help their fellow Australians,’’ Mr Palmer said.

“There are many other Australians beside me that can provide financial support necessary to allow our medical resources to be deployed in the shortest possible time to save lives.

“I want all Australians who have done well in this country to remember their fellow Australians and the sacrifices that have been made by previous generations and dig deep to support all efforts necessary to defeat this threat to our lives,’’ he said.

The director of the Gold Coast medical centre Dr Reza Madah has been appointed as medical advisor to assist the effort.

Dr Reza Madah said:  “We need more Australians like Clive Palmer who understand the urgency and the challenges facing the nation and for Australians to come forward and to commit whatever they can in the fight against COVID- 19 and supporting the medical and research community.

“The urgency of the situation cannot be left to Government alone, we need quick decisions and the timely commitment of funds and resources.”

Mr Palmer thanked Minister Hunt and the Australian Government for their support and all they had done and would do to make Australia independent to facilitate the acquisition and manufacture of drugs necessary to treat COVID-19 in the shortest possible time.

“The Commonwealth Health Department was assisting in ensuring that Australia’s high standards are maintained in the process,’’ Mr Palmer said.

When asked if he was concerned about the millions of dollars he was committing to fight COVID-19 may not achieve all that he hoped, Mr Palmer said: “If we are wrong, I lose some money but if we are right we may save the lives of thousands of our citizens. Australia must move now with urgency.”

ENDS

It was announced in Brisbane today that Clive Palmer had donated $1 million to the Royal Brisbane Hospital to fight coronavirus.

Mr Palmer donated the money online yesterday to the RBWH Foundation Coronavirus Action Fund.

University of Queensland Centre for Clinical Research director Professor David Paterson had stated earlier in the week that he had seen two drugs used to treat other conditions that can wipe out the virus in test tubes.

He said one of the medications, given to some of the first people to test positive for COVID-19 in Australia, had already resulted in ‘disappearance of the virus’ and complete recovery from the infection.

“What we want to do at the moment is a large clinical trial across Australia, looking at 50 hospitals, and what we’re going to compare is one drug, versus another drug, versus the combination of the two drugs,” Prof Paterson said.

Prof Paterson, who is also an infectious disease physician at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, said it wasn’t a stretch to label the drugs ‘a treatment or a cure’.

The RBWH Foundation had established a Coronavirus Action Fund. By Monday afternoon it had raised $30,000 of the desired $750,000 for the clinical drug trials and other related medical research. “The trials will start as soon as funding is secured,” the fund stated.

In donating the $1 million, Clive Palmer said there was now no reason why the trials could not commence immediately so treatment could soon be available for all Australians.

“At this time of national crisis in our country all Australians must do whatever they can to help their fellow Australians,’’ Mr Palmer said.

“There are many other Australians beside me that can provide financial support necessary to allow our medical resources to be deployed in the shortest possible time to save lives.

“I want all Australians who have done well in this country to remember their fellow Australians and the sacrifices that have been made by previous generations and dig deep to support all efforts necessary to defeat this threat to our lives.”

ENDS

Clive Palmer has warned voters not to be conned by Patrick Condren, the former Queensland journalist who is chasing a new career as a politician.

“Patrick Condren can’t get back into media, so now seeks to take ratepayer funds as the Labor candidate for Brisbane Lord Mayor.

“If successful, it is guaranteed rates will increase to pay for the sweeping changes he and Labor propose.

“Many who I have spoken to believe he will need to bring in new policies for dealing with harassment in council, coming from a hardened news-mentality background.

“I’m sure we will get used to seeing him front every news event, as he longs for the limelight he once enjoyed.

“The current Mayor has worked hard for the city and should be given an opportunity to build on what has already been achieved.

“We all remember why Australia rejected Shifty Shorten, now we need to reject Mr Condren,’’ Mr Palmer said.

Ends

Pauline Hanson needed to stop flip flopping on preference deals and put Australia’s best interests before her own, Clive Palmer said today.

“Pauline Hanson should give herself an uppercut for creating uncertainty when Australians need stability more than ever.”

Mr Palmer said the only way to take Queensland forward was to ensure the ALP was defeated at the State Election.

“Everybody knows that Labor destroys wealth and living conditions for everyday Australians,’’ Mr Palmer said.

“The Labor Government is just sharp-shooting with Shifty Shorten’s old policies, which are dragging Queensland backwards.

“Labor only cares about people in the city, it’s time for change,’’ he said.

ENDS

Clive Palmer said today that Malcolm Turnbull was kidding himself if he truly believed he would have retained the role of Prime Minister if he was still leading the Liberal Party.

“Turnbull has never been loyal to those who supported him. He is not interested in Australia or Australians, only himself,’’ Mr Palmer said.

Mr Palmer said the former PM’s reputation had been forever tarnished through his involvement in the collapse of insurance giant HIH which saw thousands of Australians left with worthless policies.

“For too long Malcolm Turnbull was simply masquerading as Prime Minister.

“He was a chameleon who changed his colours and stripes every day. He doesn’t know what he believes in and even when he thinks he does, he changes his mind the next day.

“He is God’s gift to whatever he thinks, just ask him,’’ Mr Palmer said.

“His days of a politician are over, he should go and write a book about how good he thinks he is.

“The truth is we know Bill Shorten had his downfalls but let me tell you Malcolm Turnbull certainly had many as well.

“I would not have spent tens of millions of dollars knocking Bill Shorten if the Australian people had Turnbull as the leader of the Liberal Party,’’ Mr Palmer said.

ENDS

Clive Palmer said today that Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk’s proposal to cap party spending for the next state election showed that Labor was running scared.

“Elections should be about ideas. The Premier wants to turn Queensland into a nanny state and limit ideas. It’s the kind of thing that happens in communist countries, not democracies,” Mr Palmer said.

Mr Palmer said that without the spread of ideas, Bill Shorten would have been elected Prime Minister at the last Federal Election.

“Where would the country be if Bill Shorten was elected?  It would be a disaster,’’ Mr Palmer said.

“It is clear that Annastacia Palaszczuk has hit the panic button but it doesn’t matter what she does because nothing will stop Labor losing the Queensland election.

“Her Government should be about creating prosperity for all Queenslanders. It’s not about Annastacia Palaszczuk or Jackie Trad, it’s about the people of Queensland.

“They should get their snouts out of the trough and start serving the people of Queensland instead of themselves,’’ Mr Palmer said.

ENDS

Clive Palmer announced today he would be happy to meet with the Australian Labor Party hierarchy to advise them on where they went so hopelessly wrong in the last federal election.

“A stronger ALP means a better country for all Australians moving forward,’’ Mr Palmer said.

“Labor got it so terribly wrong at the last election and I want to help them because democracy is about strong, robust debate and we can’t have that with the ALP in tatters.”

Mr Palmer said he was willing to advise the ALP on policy, advertising and restructuring the party ranks.

“At the last federal election we saw traditional Labor voters leave the party in droves because they backed the Greens.

“The ALP has clearly lost its way. I would be more than happy to offer my assistance to get them back on track for the benefit of a healthy democracy,’’ Mr Palmer said.

ENDS

The Palaszczuk Government continued to destroy the North Queensland economy by denying Queensland Nickel access and tenure to its berth at the Townsville port, Clive Palmer said today.

“How long can the Premier of Queensland hide behind her party’s lies that Queensland Nickel hasn’t paid the workers,’’ Mr Palmer said.

“The fact of the matter is that under the executed Settlement Agreement I have paid all that is owed in employee entitlements, under the Fair Entitlement Guarantee, and to creditors. There is nothing outstanding.

“Everyone has been paid and yet the Labor Queensland Government continues to stop this major project from operating, which would have a major economic benefit on the North Queensland economy’’ he said.

Mr Palmer has now called on the Queensland Labor Government to stop playing politics over the Townsville refinery and allow it to get back into production so it can begin employing thousands of North Queenslanders.

“Approximately 3000 direct and indirect jobs are being denied in North Queensland with Queensland Nickel not operating,’’ he said.

“Annastacia Palaszczuk and her cronies grand stand and have fake meetings in Townsville. Her Government spends millions on a stadium where locals can’t afford the price of admission.

“Any visitor to the region can see the devastation to Townsville from action or lack of action by Labor.

Mr Palmer has also strongly condemned the Labor Townsville City Council over its disastrous decisions during the flood crisis.

“Under her direction, at a time when the Ross River Dam was already over capacity and with massive rain knowingly coming, Mayor Jenny Hill refused to release water,’’ Mr Palmer said.

“If she gave instructions to release dam water when she should have, as per expert advice, the dam would have been able to capture more rain water.”

“If that was done much of the devastation to property and the welfare of Townsville people could have been avoided,’’ he said.

With the nickel price booming, Mr Palmer said all efforts should be made by the Palaszczuk Government and industry to get the $6 billion Queensland Nickel industrial project running.

“Why are the state and local governments of Townsville punishing the people of North Queensland when these people are already suffering?’’ Mr Palmer said.

“The Premier and her three state Labor members in this region refuse to meet with me. I’m the wealthiest Queenslander prepared to invest heavily in the region to create a better Townsville.

“The deputy Premier Jackie Trad is more interested in her personal property portfolio than helping Queenslanders. Like her colleagues, she is only interested in serving herself.

“Public service has no reward, history is its only reward,’’ Mr Palmer said.

“After the next state election, Labor will be history and what legacy does the Palaszczuk Government leave the people of Townsville?

“Following the last federal election we saw Shifty Shorten and his Labor party disintegrate and we will see the same again with the Palaszczuk Government. She has done nothing for the people of Queensland and they deserve more,’’ Mr Palmer said.

ENDS

The motivation for the liquidators to recover Queensland Nickel money was to gorge themselves on fees, Clive Palmer said today.

“The facts are that the liquidators proceeded to court on behalf of Queensland Nickel.

“The liquidators said claims were in order of $500 million. The fact of the matter is that all payments to creditors is less than $100 million.”

Mr Palmer said the liquidators were irresponsible in making such outlandish statements.

“The Special Purpose Liquidator’s (SPL) outcome for the plaintiff, Queensland Nickel, is zero dollars. The SPL didn’t receive any costs and all claims against me have been withdrawn,’’ he said.

Clive Palmer himself decided to pay creditors directly 100% of amounts owed, therefore the General Purpose Liquidator (GPL) receives nothing.

Mr Palmer said the liquidators need to be brought to account.

“They are disruptive to the business community and they seek to destroy any chance of survival for a business so they can get their fees first,’’ he said.

Under the terms of the Settlement Agreement, the Special Purpose Liquidator (SPL) has withdrawn all claims made against Mr Palmer and all defendants and released him and his companies of any wrongdoing.

“The GPL has never had a claim against me, therefore what we continue to read in The Australian is rubbish.

“I have given instruction for my lawyers to take action against The Australian for the continued lies about me and my family. They will have their day in court soon.

“The facts are clear that the Queensland economy has suffered because the Labor Party has been too weak to lead and assist in this matter.

“The Queensland people will make Labor accountable for its actions at the next state election and as the richest man in Queensland I’ll be doing everything in my power to make sure they are history,’’ Mr Palmer said.

ENDS

A solicitor for King & Wood Mallesons (KWM), Ms Emma Costello, has sincerely apologised to the Court and to Clive Palmer for not disclosing crucial documents in the Queensland Nickel case.

Ms Costello also stated in her affidavit to the court that it wasn’t her intention to not provide the documents.

Clive Palmer said it was a bombshell revelation that KWM had withheld crucial documents from disclosure.

Under the terms of the Settlement Agreement, the Special Purpose Liquidator (SPL) has withdrawn all claims made against Mr Palmer and all defendants.

“If I was aware of the undisclosed document, I would not have given Aurizon a release the day before the document was disclosed to the court from a $1.6 billion claim that was filed against Aurizon in the Supreme Court of Queensland,’’ Mr Palmer said.

“It should be noted that KWM acted for Aurizon in obtaining that release.

“The document itself destroyed the SPL case,’’ he said.

“It is unbelievable that King & Wood Mallesons breached their legal obligations to the Court by withholding crucial documents.

“In my opinion, the partner of KWM responsible for running this case is an obscenity.  He has exposed all the partners of KWM, including their partners in China and their global chairman Wang Junfeng in Beijing – a leading member of the Chinese Communist Party – to damages claims from our companies of hundreds of millions of dollars,’’ Mr Palmer said.

“We are currently seeking legal advice in respect of an action against KWM,’’ Mr Palmer said.

ENDS