- Clive Palmer’s media adviser has apologised for confusing the magnate’s ongoing lawsuits, but remains clear on withdrawing from WA state election
- Adviser Andrew Cook apologised and advised the announcement was meant to refer to the concurrent contempt of court proceedings against the WA Premier
- It comes after Palmer announced his United Australia Party would not contest the WA state elections in March
- The defamation suit against Premier McGowan is allegedly still in place
Clive Palmer’s media adviser has apologised for confusing the mining magnate’s ongoing lawsuits, but remains clear on the United Australia Party’s withdrawal from the WA state election.
In a statement yesterday, Andrew Cook said Palmer’s lawyers wrote to WA Premier McGowan advising the defamation lawsuit against him had been withdrawn.
Cook then reneged on the declaration, alleging he made the announcement without seeking approval from Palmer and had in fact mean to refer to a separate contempt of court case against the Premier, according to the ABC.
“The statement should have referred to the High Court legal action of contempt of court against the WA Premier Mark McGowan and his Attorney-General John Quigley where this action has been offered to discontinue,” the statement read.
“I apologise for any misunderstandings this may have caused,” it concluded.
Palmer alleges the Premier made “grossly defamatory” statements about him, including an instance where McGowan labelled him “an enemy of the state”.
The defamation proceedings against the WA premier have not been withdrawn.
Palmer out
The mix-up came shortly after Clive Palmer announced his United Australia Party would not run in the upcoming West Australia state elections in March.
A statement from Palmer said the premier could “breathe easy” following the development.
“Mark McGowan must be under enormous pressure so I don’t want to cause him any more stress during the festive season,” the magnate commented.
It marks the latest in a long line of hostile interactions between Palmer and the state, which began when the magnate was denied an exemption to enter WA as COVID-19 peaked.