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Billionaire mining magnate Clive Palmer lashes out at Premier Mark McGowan after being refused entry into WA, threatening a High Court challenge to the state’s strict state border closure.

Billionaire mining magnate Clive Palmer has lashed out at Premier Mark McGowan after being refused entry into Western Australia, threatening a High Court challenge to the state’s strict state border closure.
Key points:

  • Clive Palmer was refused entry by the WA Police Commissioner
  • He says he will file a challenge to the High Court on Monday
  • The WA Premier backs the decision to refuse Mr Palmer an exemption

Mr Palmer said he planned to take the matter to the High Court within days.
“We’ll be filing papers on Monday and proceeding with a declaration that the lockdown border closure of Western Australia is unconstitutional,” he said.
“And there’s no reason for it at the present time, and that it’s just an impediment to the workforce getting back to work and the prosperity of the state.”
The WA Police Force would not confirm if Mr Palmer’s application was rejected, saying it would not comment on individual cases.
But WA Premier Mark McGowan said Police Commissioner Chris Dawson made the right decision in refusing Mr Palmer entry to the state.
“The Police Commissioner makes decisions about who can be exempted from the quarantine arrangements,” Mr McGowan said.
WA Premier Mark McGowan endorses the Police Commissioner’s decision on Mr Palmer.(ABC News: Andrew O’Connor)
“And the Police Commissioner has made many decisions to keep people out.
“[He] has clearly said to Mr Palmer that he can’t fly in and fly out because he’s not one of the exempt people.
“The medical advice we have is very clear, that our interstate border is important to protect the health of West Australians.
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“So I endorse the Police Commissioner’s decision here. He’s made it on proper grounds and with the correct purpose behind it.
“We are trying to keep the health of West Australians safe, and if Mr Palmer doesn’t like it he’s subject to the law just like everyone else.”
In a statement this afternoon, Mr Palmer said Mr McGowan was “denying Western Australians jobs and prosperity by refusing to open the state’s borders”.
“The WA Premier needed to act now to ensure a successful future beyond COVID-19 by opening his borders to allow trade and other movements from Australian states into WA,” Mr Palmer said.
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