Article: Clive Palmer sues QR National for $8b

[ozbob]

From the Brisbanetimes click here!

Clive Palmer sues QR National for $8b

Clive Palmer sues QR National for $8b
January 31, 2012 - 10:22AM

Mining magnate Clive Palmer's China First Pty Ltd is launching an $8 billion lawsuit against rail operator QR National for competing with his plans to build a 500km rail link to carry coal.

Mr Palmer alleges a breach of confidentiality and misleading conduct over the proposed rail link between the Galilee Basin coal region and the Central Queensland coast.

QR National's own proposed Central Queensland Integrated Rail Project was announced last week, when the state government granted it significant project status.
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It will link multiple mines in the Galilee and Bowen basins to coastal ports.China First, a Clive Palmer-owned exploration and coal mine development company, says it is filing a damages claim in the Queensland Supreme Court against QR National.

The action seeks damages of $8 billion and injunctions against QR National. It also seeks to stop relevant parties from dealing with QR National in respect of the Galilee Basin and its corridor and associated port facilities.

QR National is more than one-third owned by the Queensland government. Mr Palmer accuses the state government, Labor Party and QR National of damaging his legal and commercial rights, including his plans for a rail corridor.

He says proponents of other projects should negotiate with him. China First's proposed $8 billion thermal coal mine and infrastructure project in the Galilee Basin has also been granted significant project status by the Queensland Coordinator-General.

''Our China First Project will create 6,000 jobs during construction and will generate an estimated $4.6 billion per annum in export revenues once operational,'' China First's spokeswoman Baljeet Singh said.

''Now we have QR National, in conjunction with the Queensland government, claiming it can build the rail link and create hundreds of jobs in what looks like a bid to score some political mileage in the government's bid for re-election.

''This is an outrage as we had already been in commercial discussions and exchanges with QR National for co-operation in the joint development of rail and port facilities supporting the Galilee Basin.''

AAP

Read more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/business/clive-palmer-sues-qr-national-for-8b-20120131-1qqk0.html

[ozbob]

Deputy Premier, Treasurer and Minister for State Development and Trade
The Honourable Andrew Fraser
31/01/2012

Newman lies to media over rail discussions with Palmer

Campbell Newman cannot be trusted.

His comments today that he has never discussed the Galilee Rail project with Clive Palmer is simply not true.

His own words from last May reveal his comments as a lie. Or perhaps it was 'the other Campbell Newman' who had those discussions with Mr Palmer?

Given that he has intentionally misled Queenslanders today, Mr Newman now has no option but to immediately disclose all information regarding undertakings he and other LNP MPs and officials have given Mr Palmer over the China First project in the Galilee Basin.

Mr Newman has proven that he cannot tell the truth when it comes to his personal financial interests, he couldn't tell the truth about how many jobs he would create, and he hasn't told the truth about the secret conversations he's had with Clive Palmer over the Galilee Rail project.

AAP, May 9 2011

Mr Newman told reporters he had discussed the matter with Mr Palmer, a major LNP donor, and he had indicated a preference for a single corridor.

[ozbob]

And we are still not yet officially in the election campaign?  LOL

[#Metro]

''Our China First Project will create 6,000 jobs during construction and will generate an estimated $4.6 billion per annum in export revenues once operational,'' China First's spokeswoman Baljeet Singh said.

^^ Cross River Rail Funding right there 
Tax it!!!

[somebody]

''Our China First Project will create 6,000 jobs during construction and will generate an estimated $4.6 billion per annum in export revenues once operational,'' China First's spokeswoman Baljeet Singh said.

^^ Cross River Rail Funding right there 
Tax it!!!

Not really.  Revenue >> Profit.

[Stillwater]

Andrew Fraser is going to be the ALP's bovver boy of the state election campaign.  He has the demeanour of a frustrated teen who threatened to burn down the family house if he didn't get his way.  Anna Bligh will glide above the dirty mess to appear as the fairy godmother, serene, smiling and bearing gifts.

If we cast Campbell Newman as the Energiser bunny -- just keep on bobbing along -- it would appear Tim Nicholls is the one taking the fight to Fraser.  In those circumstances, the danger is that people will start comparing Newman and an articulate, reasoned Nicholls.

[ozbob]

Article updated ..

From the Brisbanetimes click here!

Palmer launches $8bn lawsuit amid political brawl

Palmer launches $8bn lawsuit amid political brawl
January 31, 2012 - 12:33PM


Mining magnate Clive Palmer's company China First Pty Ltd is launching an $8 billion lawsuit against rail operator QR National for competing with his plans to build a 500km rail link to carry coal.

The legal claim comes amid a political spat over Labor claims that Mr Palmer, a donor to the Liberal National Party, may expect to have influence over a future conservative government in Queensland.

Mr Palmer alleges a breach of confidentiality and misleading conduct over the proposed rail link between the Galilee Basin coal region and the Central Queensland coast.
Advertisement: Story continues below

QR National's own proposed Central Queensland Integrated Rail Project was announced last week, when the state government granted it significant project status.

It will link multiple mines in the Galilee and Bowen basins to coastal ports.

China First, a Clive Palmer-owned exploration and coal mine development company, says it is filing a damages claim in the Queensland Supreme Court against QR National.

The action seeks damages of $8 billion and injunctions against QR National. It also seeks to stop relevant parties from dealing with QR National in respect of the Galilee Basin and its corridor and associated port facilities.

QR National is more than one-third owned by the Queensland government. Mr Palmer has accused the state government, the Labor Party and QR National of damaging his legal and commercial rights, including his plans for a rail corridor.

He says proponents of other projects should negotiate with him. China First's proposed $8 billion thermal coal mine and infrastructure project in the Galilee Basin has also been granted significant project status by the Queensland Coordinator-General.

"Our China First Project will create 6000 jobs during construction and will generate an estimated $4.6 billion per annum in export revenues once operational," China First's spokeswoman Baljeet Singh said.

"Now we have QR National, in conjunction with the Queensland government, claiming it can build the rail link and create hundreds of jobs in what looks like a bid to score some political mileage in the government's bid for re-election.

"This is an outrage as we had already been in commercial discussions and exchanges with QR National for co-operation in the joint development of rail and port facilities supporting the Galilee Basin."

Deputy Premier Andrew Fraser today argued Mr Palmer would expect special treatment from an LNP government.

Mr Fraser made the comment after Mr Palmer's company wrote to Co-ordinator General Keith Davies, asking him to explain why he granted significant project status to a proposed QR National rail link in the Galilee Basin.

Mr Palmer's legal director at Waratah Coal, Baljeet Singh, sought the explanation along with copies of related correspondence with Premier Anna Bligh, Mr Fraser, ALP members and unions.

"We are concerned that the Premier and the Queensland government together with yourself, members of the Australian Labor Party and/or directors or employees of QRN have conspired to create the false and misleading impression that all is well in the Galilee Basin and its approval process so that you or others may retain their position," Mr Palmer's legal chief wrote.

Mr Fraser said he feared the mining magnate's influence over any LNP government and he called on leader Campbell Newman to rein in the billionaire, a major financial backer of the party.

"This letter is way out of line and way over the top and Mr Newman needs to pull him into line," Mr Fraser said.

"What Queenslanders are seeing is a potential window on an LNP government when Mr Palmer thinks he is entitled to special treatment."

But Mr Newman today rejected assertions Mr Palmer would receive any special treatment, saying he had not met with Mr Palmer for "the best part of four months" and had never discussed the Galilee railway issue with him.

"Mr Palmer's affairs have got nothing to do with our election campaign," he said.

Mr Newman said he did not know the details of Mr Palmer's letters or legal action.

"I will not answer for any company," Mr Newman said.

"It's got nothing to do with us. The only person that's saying that is Andrew Fraser and why? Because he doesn't want to talk about his record."

Mr Newman dismissed Mr Fraser's comments as "silly political games".

"Is it appropriate that Andrew Fraser talks about matters that are the subject of correspondence between business organisations and the government?" Mr Newman said.

Mr Newman said the LNP had made clear its position on the Galilee Basin mid-last year, when he said there should be just one rail corridor.

Mr Fraser said the government had always preferred one railway line in the Galilee Basin but there could be two.

"Ultimately two railways may be built, but Labor's preferred policy position is to pursue one corridor," he said.

- AAP and Daniel Hurst

Read more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/state-election-2012/palmer-launches-8bn-lawsuit-amid-political-brawl-20120131-1qqft.html

[O_128]

you think you would be happy if someone was building a rail line for you.

[ozbob]

From the Townsville Bulletin click here!  9th May 2011

Coal rail plan "crazy": LNP

Coal rail plan "crazy": LNP

AAP  |  May 9th, 2011

A plan for three huge coal projects to build separate railway lines to the port of Bowen in north Queensland is "crazy", the Liberal National Party (LNP) says.

Gina Rinehart's Hancock project, Clive Palmer's Waratah and Adani's project have failed to co-operate on plans to ship coal from the Galilee Basin in central Queensland to Bowen.

The LNP leadership weighed into the debate on Monday, with LNP leader Campbell Newman and parliamentary Opposition Leader Jeff Seeney calling for a single corridor.

"It doesn't pass the commonsense test, does it, to have three separate railway lines transporting coal from three projects that are so closely located to the same port on the coast?" Mr Seeney said.

Mr Seeney told AAP a lack of government planning was to blame.

"It's a continuation of the sort of failure that we've seen in the Surat Basin (experiencing a coal seam gas boom) where they haven't had the regulation, they haven't had the administration processes in place to control the development there.

"That's been the cause of a lot of community anger and a lot of community angst, and understandably so.

"They should learn from that lesson and get ahead of the game in the Galilee Basin."

Mr Seeney said the government's coordinator-general should do his job and minimise the impact of the coal-transport lines.

Mr Newman said the government of Labor Premier Anna Bligh needed to show leadership and define a transport corridor for the resources companies.

"Let's have one designated corridor and have the companies put their infrastructure in that corridor," he said.

Even if the coal companies opted for different-gauge railway systems, they should run down a single corridor, he said.

Mr Newman told reporters he had discussed the matter with Mr Palmer, a major LNP donor, and he had indicated a preference for a single corridor.

[Stillwater]

So, is the single coal line part of a LNP transport policy of sorts?  Will we see the rest of the plan before the election?

[SurfRail]

Heavens to Betsy, but the LNP is actually talking sense here.

One standard gauge railway line would be a better outcome.  It's not that hard to sort out who gets to use it.

http://www.qca.org.au/about/responsibilities/third-party-access/ - the system that would presumably apply here
http://www.pc.gov.au/projects/inquiry/access - the Commonwealth-wide system

[Golliwog]

you think you would be happy if someone was building a rail line for you.

I believe the problem comes with regards to access though. Last I heard Palmer wanted it to be just for his mines use/others pay large to use it. Plus, he wanted a different gauge track.

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Newman slips up on Palmer talks