Clive Palmer has appeared before the Federal Court in Brisbane in a bid to postpone answering questions about the collapse of the company behind the Yabulu nickel refinery.
The former federal politician represented himself at a hearing on Friday also attended by lawyers appearing for special purpose liquidators of Queensland Nickel.
The company collapsed earlier this year resulting in the loss of hundreds of jobs of the Yabulu nickel refinery.
The latest hearing comes after Mr Palmer was issued with a summons to appear and give evidence at a public examination on August 30.
Outside court Mr Palmer told reporters he felt a lot of sympathy for Australian workers, particularly those in Queensland out of employment.
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"I would ultimately like to see the refinery reopened in Townsville and to employ all those people who lost their jobs," he said.
Within Friday's hearing Justice Andrew Greenwood questioned the content of Mr Palmer's affidavit which he said descended into political analysis and other content that didn't appear to be "remotely relevant" to the present matter.
"There are assertions in this affidavit about ... discussions with the prime minister. It's got absolutely nothing to do with anything," Justice Greenwood summarised.
"I don't understand why it's in here."
He ordered Mr Palmer's two affidavits be sealed given the "wide range of factual contentions" within them didn't apply to the proceeding.
It came after the businessman said he didn't mind answering questions but wanted to do so in a single examination that covered all matters.
He argued the public examinations should be held off until some "32 million" documents requested have been turned over by mid-September.
Mr Palmer said he'd already been the subject of "massive publicity" and didn't want to find himself "facing another media barrage" by enduring multiple examinations.
Justice Greenwood told him there was only one relevant summons before the court given an earlier bid by general purpose liquidators didn't eventuate.
He said a company had collapsed, "a lot of people" lost their livelihoods and as such there were "matters that need to be examined".
The matter will return to court on Monday.
