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Clive Palmer’s nephew recently sought help for mental health problems

Clive Mensink was recently in Boston seeking help for mental health issues, court has heard.

Clive Mensink was recently in Boston seeking help for mental health issues, court has heard. Photo: AAP

The whereabouts of Clive Palmer’s globe-trotting nephew remain unclear but he recently visited the famed Boston Medical Centre for advice on mental health problems, the Federal Court has heard.

Clive Mensink has blamed clinical depression and anxiety for his failure to return home, where liquidators are waiting to grill him about the collapse of Mr Palmer’s Queensland Nickel business.

Liquidators PPB Advisory plan to ask the Federal Court to issue a warrant for Mr Mensink’s arrest later on Thursday, after he failed to comply with two orders to present himself for questioning.

He was the sole registered director of Queensland Nickel before the company went belly up in January last year, with debts of $300 million and the loss of 800 Townsville refinery jobs.

During a hearing on Thursday morning, the court was told Mr Mensink had sought medical advice for his mental health conditions at Boston Medical Centre.

He was in Boston as recently as January 31 as part of an extended overseas trip that’s lasted nine months.

Federal Court Justice John Dowsett mused whether it might be better for Mr Mensink to return home, where he could seek Australian medical advice and a decision could be made on whether he was fit to give evidence about the nickel company’s collapse.

“It might be better if he came home, mightn’t it?” Justice Dowsett put to Mr Mensink’s0 lawyers.

Mr Mensink’s barrister Alex Nelson said his client had advice to support his claim that he wasn’t well.

Asked what the possible causes of his depression were, Mr Nelson replied: “The trigger would have to have been the publicity that was around when these companies crashed.”

But he also said Mr Mensink’s 2015 divorce “could have been a trigger”.

Mr Nelson also said communication with his client was “difficult”.

“What, with the US? With Boston?” Justice Dowsett asked.

“No, with him,” Mr Nelson said.

Justice Dowsett dryly replied: “My experience is that communication with people overseas – they are as easy to find as they want to be.”

Mr Nelson replied: “Probably true.”

The hearing has been adjourned until later on Thursday afternoon.

– AAP

Topics: Clive Palmer
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