Affidavit lodged in supreme court refers to Turnbull’s ‘naming in the Panama Papers’ and advises him not to move his assets

This article is more than 2 years old

This article is more than 2 years old

Clive Palmer may move to attempt to freeze the prime minister’s assets as his legal wrangling with liquidators for Queensland Nickel continues.

In an affidavit lodged in the Brisbane supreme court, Palmer’s lawyer Sam Iskander advised lawyers acting for Malcolm Turnbull and Senator Michaelia Cash not to transfer their assets “outside the jurisdiction of the court”.

Among a letter in the affidavit, Iskander indicated a freezing order was a possibility.

Clive Palmer’s company Mineralogy ordered to pay $22m bill Read more

“It may be necessary that our client seeks a [freezing] application considering Mr Turnbull’s use of a [Cayman Islands] tax haven, his history and his recent naming in the Panama Papers,” the letter stated.

Palmer’s latest gambit comes after an application to freeze $16,425,535.54 was lodged against his flagship company, Mineralogy, last August.

During an appearance at the federal court in December, Palmer denied the now-collapsed Queensland Nickel was a “cash cow” for Mineralogy.

Liquidators have spent months in court attempting to examine how QN failed with debts of $300m, which caused the loss of about 800 jobs.

