A public examination of Clive Palmer over the collapse of Queensland Nickel (QN) has been delayed because his nephew is overseas.
Mr Palmer and his nephew, QN's sole appointed director Clive Mensink, were due to be examined in the Federal Court in Brisbane on Tuesday but Mr Mensink has told liquidators he is overseas and unable to attend.
Liquidators FTI Consulting say they will now seek to have the hearing adjourned to another date.
Mr Palmer had already flagged his no-show, telling reporters on Wednesday he wouldn't be appearing in the Federal Court, despite a court order granted to FTI demanding his appearance.
"Well that's just a furphy," Mr Palmer said at the time when asked whether he was worried about his expected court appearance.
"I won't be appearing in court next week."
Mr Palmer had emphatically denied even receiving a summons, insisting the issue was "another attempt to muddy the waters" during the federal election campaign.
He has repeatedly distanced himself from all decisions that led to the demise of his north Queensland nickel refinery and the loss of about 800 jobs amid attempts by three special-purpose liquidators to claw back almost $70 million in taxpayer funds used to cover workers' entitlements.
FTI said there was evidence the businessman-politician, who will not recontest his Sunshine Coast-based seat of Fairfax at the July 2 election, acted as a shadow director and used the venture to bankroll other interests.
The delayed hearings are expected to cover allegations FTI made in an April report to creditors owed hundreds of millions of dollars.
Mr Palmer has since signalled he will sue FTI for $1.2 billion, accusing administrator John Park of breaching the QN Joint Venture Agreement and blocking a restructure that could have kept the refinery afloat.
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