Clive Palmer's multibillion dollar claims make a mockery of a tribunal that allows foreign investors to challenge court decisions | Patricia Ranald

The billionaire's last three cases are part of a growing global list from fossil fuel companies against government decisions to reduce carbon emissionsFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastDespite the Australian billionaire Clive Palmer's self-proclaimed patriotism through the Trumpet of Patriots party, he has registered his mining company, Zeph Investments, in Singapore and claimed to be a Singaporean investor. He then used foreign investor rights in two trade agreements with Singapore to sue the Australian government for a total of about $420bn in four separate cases before an international investment tribunal.Palmer's first claim was for $300bn after he lost a high court appeal against a Western Australian government decision to refuse an iron ore mining licence. The last three claims for a total of $120bn are because a Queensland court refused his coal mining licence and a licence for a coal-fired power plant for environmental reasons, including increased carbon emissions. Continue reading...