Pause in Palmer's legal proceedings
The jury in an environmental case against Clive Palmer's North Queensland nickel refinery has been dismissed.
After less than a week of testimony from witnesses in the Townsville District Court, a Queensland Nickel representative brought new evidence, causing Judge John Baulch to dismiss the jury.
Palmer’s firm Queensland Nickel faces two counts of wilfully breaching its environmental authority after a wastewater dam spilled high levels of cobalt and ammonia during heavy rain in 2014.
The Environment Department alleges the company ignored calls made over the course of years to fix the dam to handle wet season downpours.
Queensland Nickel, which is currently in liquidation, has had a plea of not guilty was entered on its behalf.
Earlier hearings had heard claims Mr Palmer kept close control of company operations, even when he was not officially linked with it.
Former chief financial officer at Queensland Nickel, Daren Wolfe, said all expenses over $10,000 had to be approved by Mr Palmer, even when he was no longer the director.
Mr Wolfe said that by 2015, Mr Palmer was signing off on all expenditure over $500.
Mr Palmer says he only had control through a joint venture agreement that gave him the ability to instruct financial decisions.
The court also heard that Mr Palmer was given hard copies of weekly and monthly financial statements prepared in the lead up to the company's collapse out of fear of espionage.
Queensland Nickel’s refinery at Yabulu in Townsville went into voluntary administration with debts totalling $300 million earlier this year.
The Federal Government is seeking to recoup close to $70 million it paid in workers entitlements.
The matter has been adjourned until next month.