Mining tycoon Clive Palmer has walked out of an interview with ABC's 7.30 program after host Sarah Ferguson questioned him about his legal dispute with a former Chinese business partner.
The leader of the Palmer United Party was reportedly holidaying in New Zealand and agreed to do an interview with the broadcaster via a video-link.
When Ms Ferguson asked Mr Palmer about his legal battle with CITIC Pacific, he walked out.
Mr Palmer's mining company Mineralogy remains locked in bitter legal disputes with CITIC Pacific over iron ore and port issues in WA's Pilbara region.
Last month Mr Palmer quit the board of Mineralogy. Media reports have suggested the move, and Mr Palmer's similar action on other boards, is an attempt to distance himself from allegations by Chinese state-owned CITIC Pacific about wrongful spending of funds.
"Don't talk to me about allegations and bullshit," Mr Palmer said, when Ms Ferguson asked him about the dispute.
"I'm not discussing it with you any further, Madam. It's subject to court proceedings."
Ms Ferguson replied: "There were a couple of questions that you were prepared to take earlier this week that I just want to clear up."
To which Mr Palmer said: "I'm not answering any more for you, so goodbye, we'll see you later."
On Thursday a push to repeal the carbon tax was voted down in the Senate after the Palmer United Party withdrew its support at the eleventh hour.
The Palmer United Party senators sided with Labor and the Greens, as well as Ricky Muir, to vote it down 37-35.
An earlier Coalition motion to deem the bill as urgent was passed in the upper house this morning, pushing a debate on the bill today.
Ahead of the vote, Clive Palmer told reporters that his senators would not vote with the government amid continued debate over the amendments.
Mr Palmer said the government had "pulled a swifty" on his party after they failed to circulate their revised amendment to the repeal legislation.
He said the amendment had been met with a "violent reaction" from the government, prompting a withdrawal of support form the party's senators.
But he later said the government had agreed with the changes, but told him they "couldn't put them in the Senate" on Thursday.
