Liquidators are refusing to hand over Clive Palmer's private jet unless he covers the costs Queensland Nickel spent on operating and maintaining it, court documents reveal.
In an application lodged to the Brisbane Supreme Court, liquidators claim QN spent more than $2 million on the Cessna Citation X, which was bought for $US5 million ($A6.6 million) in late 2011.
Mr Palmer's legal team is fighting to get the plane back, arguing the original contract sale and a memorandum between him and the company prove he is the rightful owner.
However, the liquidators state they cannot rely exclusively on those documents as the company represented itself as the aircraft owner in correspondences.
In particular, email exchanges between QN and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Cayman Islands show Mr Palmer transferred the registered ownership of the plane to QN in late 2012.
Mr Palmer's lawyers argue the certificate of registration is not proof of legal ownership.
In its application to the court, the liquidator states maintaining and selling the plane would be costly and is considering giving it to Mr Palmer in exchange for him covering the money QN spent on operating and maintaining the aircraft.
The matter is due to be heard on August 5 alongside several other legal disputes involving Mr Palmer and his companies.
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