Clive Palmer suing WA government for $30bn in move labelled 'rapacious' by attorney general

The mining billionaire Clive Palmer is suing the Western Australian government for $30bn, the state’s attorney general has revealed.

The WA attorney general, John Quigley, introduced emergency legislation into the state’s parliament on Tuesday in a bid to “prevent potentially dire consequences for the state” after Palmer and his company, Mineralogy, lodged the claim as part of a dispute related to one of the businessman’s iron ore projects in the Pilbara region.

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Quigley said the government had been engaged in dispute resolution negotiations with Palmer and his company but that the “rapacious” legal claim amounted to the state’s entire annual budget - or the equivalent of $12,000 for each of WA’s residents.

“If Mr Palmer succeeded in his claims at anywhere near the level sought, this would have dire consequences for the finances of the state of Western Australia and all Western Australians,” the attorney general said.

“The government is taking steps to protect the state from the rapacious nature of Mr Palmer [and his companies].”

Quigley said the claim related to a dispute over a mining proposal dating back to 2012 concerning the Balmoral South iron ore project in the Pilbara. He said the damages claim related to decisions made by the former WA government.

Comment has been sought from Palmer.