Fairfax federal MP Clive Palmer insists he won't be appearing in the Federal Court next week to answer questions, under oath, about the collapse of his Townsville nickel refinery.
But that's not what a court order granted to Queensland Nickel (QN) administrators FTI Consulting says.
Mr Palmer has repeatedly distanced himself from all decisions that led to the demise of the refinery and the loss of about 800 jobs as three special-purpose liquidators attempt to claw back almost $70 million in taxpayer funds used to cover workers' entitlements.
FTI says there is evidence he acted as a shadow director and used the venture to bankroll other interests.
"Well that's just a furphy," Mr Palmer said when asked if he was worried about the court appearance.
"I won't be appearing in court next week."
He emphatically denied receiving any court summons, offering to explain the process to journalists who didn't understand that an order granted last month would simply expire on Tuesday - his scheduled appearance date - because it hadn't been served within the required eight-day notice period.
QN director Clive Mensink and former managing director Ian Ferguson, likewise, had not been served, he said in Brisbane on Wednesday.
"This is just another attempt to muddy the waters in the election period where there's no substance to what people are saying."
An FTI Consulting spokesman told AAP the orders had been served and Mr Palmer was required to turn up at Tuesday's Federal Court hearing.
The QN hearings are also expected to cover allegations FTI made in an April report to creditors, who are owed hundreds of millions of dollars.
Mr Palmer has 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.
It comes as an appeal by Mr Palmer's petroleum company relating to a dispute with a Singapore-based company that surveyed petroleum lease areas in the Gulf of Papua was dismissed in Queensland's Court of Appeal on Wednesday.
Palmer Petroleum launched the legal challenge after Justice David Boddice in March dismissed the original court action, describing it as a "cynical attempt" to deflect responsibility for a $20 million debt owed to the exploration company.
Mr Palmer, who will not recontest his Queensland seat of Fairfax but remains the Palmer United Party (PUP) leader, also announced his two Queensland Senate candidates on Wednesday.
But he was forced to shut down more suggestions of nepotism within his party given both candidates - James McDonald and Craig Gunnis - are former or current employees of Palmer businesses.
"What's really important is not who stands but what they say and what they do for the people of Australia," he said.
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